Extract: Avaaz wants to see the UK significantly cut its carbon emissions and join its clean energy pledge.
wind turbines
An environmental campaign group is calling on residents and local authorities throughout the UK to adopt a low carbon approach in 2015, in a bid to improve the country’s green credentials and lower the levels of potentially harmful gases entering the atmosphere.
The Guardian reports that global campaign organisation Avaaz believes Britain can significantly lower its carbon emissions over the next 12 months, helping to clean up its energy usage.
Global cities including Sydney, Copenhagen, Munich, Frankfurt and Lima have already committed to using 100 per cent clean energy by 2050 and Avaaz wants to see UK-based cities following suit to help make the country as carbon neutral as possible by this date.
Localised campaigns have been launched in 123 cities throughout Britain, with Avaaz hoping that at least 20 will pledge their commitment to using clean energy in the future by the end of 2015.
Senior campaigner at Avaaz Bert Wander commented: “Last year, people took to the streets to demand a shift to clean energy and this year, these same people will be making that goal a reality, one town at a time.
“Cities all over the world have already started announcing 100 per cent clean-energy targets and where cities lead, entire countries can follow.”
One of the organisers of the Manchester-based petition for the campaign Jon Crooks added: “If we can get cities to commit, then governments will have to respond.”
Installing improved insulation is one way in which individual households can help to reduce their carbon emissions, while also saving money on their energy bills.
For instance, data from the Energy Saving Trust shows that investing in loft insulation for a terraced home can help to prevent approximately 60 kg of excess carbon dioxide from entering the environment, while cutting heating bills by up to £140 per year.
What’s more, mid-terraced properties that opt for solid wall insulation could lower their carbon emissions by around 700 kg and see their annual energy bills reduced by as much as £180.
http://www.theguardian.com/cities/2015/jan/03/british-cities-clean-energy-global-campaign
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/domestic/content/roof-and-loft
http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/domestic/content/solid-wall