Government announces measures to encourage individuals to tackle climate change and take up greener lifestyles
28 Dec 2006 04:00 AM
Measures to help individuals tackle climate change and adopt greener
lifestyles were today unveiled by the Government.
The announcement includes the launch of a comprehensive on-line guide
to greener living on Directgov. A carbon calculator to help people
find out how much carbon they emit annually from their actions is
also being developed.
The online guide to greener living is designed to help people who
want to find out what they can do in their everyday lives to tackle
climate change and other environmental issues.
The guide includes actions that can be taken covering the home,
shopping, travel, food and drink, waste and recycling, energy and
water saving, gardening, as well as being green in your workplace,
school and community.
Environment Secretary David Miliband said the Stern Review had made
it clear that there was an urgent need for everyone to tackle climate
change. Individuals had an important role to play as 40 per cent of
carbon emissions stem from their actions.
"Awareness of climate change is now higher than ever and there is a
real acceptance among people of the need to take action. We all need
to take action to change our lifestyles. We need to think about the
way we use energy in our homes and in the way we travel.
"Providing a reliable, easy to understand online resource is one way
to help people find out about what they can do to tackle climate
change. There are lots of different things individuals can do to
reduce the harm their lifestyles do to the environment. This online
guide provides information to help people who want to take action to
make informed choice - not lecture them about what they should do."
The Government is also taking action to reduce its own emissions.
Earlier this year, it announced a range of new sustainable operations
targets, including a target to reduce carbon emissions from its
office based estate by 30 per cent by 2020.
It announced today that EEA Fund Management Ltd has won the contract
to fulfil the Government's obligation to offset its own air travel.
All central Government official and ministerial air travel has been
captured under carbon offsetting schemes since April 2006. Around 30
departments, agencies and bodies are participating in the largest of
the schemes - the Government Carbon Offsetting Fund.
Over the next three years, EEA will source and deliver 255,000
Certified Emission Reduction credits - with a provision for a further
50,000 credits - from a portfolio of small-scale renewable energy and
energy efficiency Kyoto-registered projects in countries such as
Brazil, Thailand and the Philippines.
Notes for Editors
1. The online guide to greener living can be found at
www.direct.gov.uk/greenerliving
Public enquiries 08459 335577;
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