Carbon emissions in Westminster "unsustainable", say local LibDems
October 29, 2006 4:56 PM
Dramatic new figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats show that Westminster residents are producing carbon dioxide, which causes climate change, at a rate over 50% above the national average.
As part of the Liberal Democrat campaign for a Green Tax Switch - taxing pollution, not people - the Westminster LibDems have published figures showing the carbon emissions per head of population in the area, and how this compares to the national and global averages.
Chair of the local LibDems, Jo Hayes, said:
"With a population of 222,000, Westminster is emitting 3.5 million tonnes of carbon each year on the latest official figures. This means that every year the average Westminster resident creates over 15 tonnes of carbon, which contrasts starkly with the national annual average of under 10 tonnes per Briton.
"The global average is around 2.5 tonnes of carbon per person per year, which means the average person in Westminster is generating more than six times as much as the average global inhabitant.
"We just can't keep on consuming and polluting at this rate. Carbon emissions are the key problem causing global warming.
"All of us need to try far harder to meet the national target of a 60% cut in carbon emissions by 2050 to which all major political parties have agreed.
"Through simple things like turning down the thermostat, using energy-saving light bulbs and not leaving appliances on standby we can all help to save the environment and cut our energy bills. I urge everybody to make at least one commitment to energy saving today.
"All the main political parties now agree that we have to tackle climate change, but only the Liberal Democrats have put forward firm plans to help us change our behaviour through tax incentives."
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