A study conducted by the Climate Council has found most people in rural and regional Australia feel they are already suffering the consequences of climate change.
The study, which surveyed 2000 people across Australian rural and regional communities, found many people said they were adapting to warming conditions themselves - by introducing renewable energy solutions into their work and everyday life.
One of the community groups who helped facilitate the study was the Community Power Agency, which helps set up community-owned renewable energy projects.
"There are over 90 per cent of regional Australians in this poll who say they are feeling the effects of climate change already," she said.
"There are over 90 per cent of regional Australians in this poll who say they are feeling the effects of climate change already," she said.
"Eighty-two per cent of regional Australians are really particularly concerned about droughts and flooding and how that will effect crop production and food supply, so there's great agreement across regional Australia around the impacts of climate change and we need to be getting on and doing something about it."
Ms Ison said many people in rural and regional Australia were taking matters in their own hands.
In 2011, the Community Power Agency began with just two community energy projects.
Now the organisation has more than 50 operating projects.
But Ms Ison said communities wished there was more leadership from policy-makers on easing the burden of climate change impacts.
The survey also found about 46 per cent believe coal-fired power stations should be phased out and 53 per cent said solar was the preferred energy source, followed by wind and hydro power.
Of those surveyed, 74 per cent said ignoring climate change would make the present situation worse, and two thirds called for the federal government to take a leading role in tackling climate change.
