Articles
Blair launches carbon footprint campaign
Author: Amy Iggulden
Source: Daily Telegraph
Publication Date: 25th April 2007
Tony Blair today launched the first mass campaign to encourage consumers to cut their carbon footprint dramatically.
The prime minister joined with eight major companies, the Church of England and environment groups to demand that every household in Britain reduce their carbon emissions by at least one tonne in the next three years.
The average household emits six tonnes of CO2 a year, and together are responsible for a quarter of Britain’s carbon footprint.
If successful, the campaign could lead to a total saving of 25 million tonnes - more than the combined household emissions of Scotland and Wales. Marks & Spencer, Tesco, Sky, B&Q and four others have introduced products aimed at cutting greenhouse gases and given a pledge to reduce their emissions.
M&S is calling on all its customers to wash clothes at 30C instead of 40C. It is introducing a “Think climate change” label into 70 per cent of its clothing from this summer with the slogan: “Unless it’s really dirty wash at 30C”.
Tesco has pledged to sell 10million energy-saving lightbulbs in a year, halving the cost of each bulb and doubling the floorspace given to them.
Sky has downloaded technology into 2million of its set-top boxes so they turn themselves off a night, and B&Q is halving the price of its best-selling insulation.
The measures were hailed as “inspiring and groundbreaking” by the prime minister, who said he wanted Britain to show the rest of the world that cutting carbon did not need to harm the economy.
Mr Blair said: “Even if you thought it [climate change] was merely probable, the consequences are so devastating that it would be rather foolish not to act on it.”
Dr Steve Howard, chief executive of The Climate Group, the NGO leading the campaign, said it was the first time businesses, lobby groups and consumer groups had joined forces with Government to reach all 60million people in Britain.
“Today marks an unprecedented commitment. This campaign will reach everyone. Unless you sit in your house, never turn on the television and never go out, there is now an affordable, simple way to help tackle climate change.”
The carbon reductions will be measured by the Energy Saving Trust on the website together.com.
Tony Juniper, director of Friends of the Earth, said: “This is a step in the right direction. But in order to make the transition to becoming a low-carbon society we need all businesses to go greener, not just some.”
Added to the database on 25th April 2007
Useful links
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/23/nclimate123.xml
Keywords: prime minister, Tony Blair, carbon footprint, campaign, consumers
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