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Chelmsford |
Carbon emissions in Chelmsford unsustainable
November 21, 2006 10:05 PM
Chelmsford is emitting three times as much carbon dioxide as the global average, and thus making a major contribution to climate change. This was revealed in dramatic new Government figures, calculated locally by Liberal Democrat Stephen Robinson. There was a small consolation in that this figure is better than the national average.
The figures were researched as part of the Liberal Democrat campaign for a 'green tax switch' to tax pollution not people. Stephen Robinson (Lib Dem parliamentary candidate in 2005) has calculated the carbon emissions per head of population in the borough, and how this compares to the national and global averages.
Mr Robinson said:
"With a population of 158,000 Chelmsford is emitting 1.2 million tonnes of carbon each year on the latest official figures. This puts us at 7.5 tonnes of carbon per person per year, far higher than the global average of around 2.5 tonnes per person, albeit less than the UK average of 9.3 tonnes per person.
"We need to get these figures down to a sustainable level that will stop climate chaos, rising sea levels and storms. If we don't, most of Essex could disappear under water. We need to shift to low carbon cars, and save energy in the home and at work.
"All the main political parties say that we have to tackle climate change, but only the Liberal Democrats have put forward firm plans to help. We will give the average person a ?1000 income tax cut, funded by increasing the tax on pollution.
"Our Green Tax Switch stall run in Chelmsford High Street on 21 October helped put this message across to local people. Our special website www.greenerchelmsford.org.uk offers practical advice on how to make simple lifestyle changes that will not only help to save the planet, but will actually save Chelmsford people money.
"We can all do simple things like turning down the thermostat, using energy saving light bulbs and not leaving appliances on standby. We can help save the environment AND cut our ever-rising energy bills."
ENDS
Source of Data
www.defra.gov.uk/environment/statistics/globatmos/regionalrpt/laregionalco2rpt20051021.xls
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