AUSTRALIA should be "shamed" into adopting more ambitious greenhouse emissions reduction and trading schemes at the Copenhagen climate conference in December.This was among the suggestions to emerge from the recent Ballarat Climate Change Forum, where participants were asked to write down their "hopes and fears" under a changing climate.The 380 participants gave a range of responses, with some calling for politicians to show more leadership in pushing for renewable energy as an alternative to fossil-fuel energy sources such as coal-fired power stations.Several participants also said they would take individual action, including installing photovoltaic panels and being more careful about buying products whose manufacture produced substantial greenhouse gas emissions.One participant said they hoped that "once business gets the incentives it will rapidly get the solutions (look at how quickly AIDS became a manageable disease, not a death sentence; look at the developments in the internet and mobile phones in 10 years)".Among people's fears were water shortages and habitat loss, and that climate change "would be a slow death by 1000 cuts".Those attending the forum, co-hosted by the Ballarat Renewable Energy and Zero Emissions Group, the University of Ballarat and The Courier, were also asked to complete audience feedback forms.Of the 177 who completed feedback forms, just over half were BREAZE members.While most respondents had travelled less than 10km to attend the forum, 17 people had journeyed more than 100km.About 55 per cent of the respondents were over 50 years of age. Only 15 people, or 8.6 per cent of respondents, were under 30.Many at the forum said they came to hear updates on climate change while others said they were interested in learning about practical ideas for sustainable living.