THE Climate Change Forum will run again this year in Ballarat. The forum will provide expert knowledge and information for the Ballarat community to take personal action on dealing with climate change impacts such as changing weather patterns, rising energy and living costs and reduced rainfall.The event will be hosted by Earth Matters, a partnership between local climate action group Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions, The Courier and the University of Ballarat. Earth Matters is an ongoing campaign to raise public awareness on environmental issues in Ballarat and the surrounding region. Mt Mercer Wind Farm is also supporting the forum.Information stands at the forum will provide simple tools and ideas for making changes at home to deal with climate change impacts while continuing a great lifestyle in Ballarat."Recent BREAZE research on climate change in Ballarat shows that many in the Ballarat community are ready to act on climate change and want information they can act on," BREAZE executive officer Lisa Kendal said."The Earth Matters Climate Change Forum is designed to provide some of that information."The Courier editor Angela Carey said climate change was a global issue that affected all communities."This is a positive step towards developing a community action plan to tackle the many issues that climate change will bring on our communities," she said.Professor Peter Gel from the University of Ballarat said the university was "committed to a sustainable environment and the campaign against climate change"."We are proud to be involved in this Earth Matters Forum and look forward to its outcomes," Professor Gel said. "Mt Mercer Wind Farm is pleased to be supporting the ... forum as it endeavours to encourage debate and discussion on climate change by engaging with community members and encouraging the uptake of renewable energy to reduce the reliance on fossil fuels to generate electricity," Mt Mercer Wind Farm project manager Stephen Crowe said.Experts to speak at the forum include climate change author and expert David Spratt; energy specialist Mark Diesendorf; CSIRO weather specialist Kathleen McKinness and Australia Institute deputy director Richard Denniss.* Tickets for the forum at the Wendouree Centre for the Performing Arts are now being sold.To order tickets call 5338 0980.Tickets are $15 for adults or $10 for students and concession card holders.The forum will be held on Saturday, August 8 from 12.45pm to 5.30pm with information booths open from noon.