Local LibDem chair makes green promise on World Environment Day (Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats)

Westminster and City of London Liberal Democrats <info@westminsterlibdems.org.uk>

Local LibDem chair makes green promise on World Environment Day

June 6, 2007 11:38 PM

Chair of the Westminster LibDems Jo Hayes encouraged local people to join her in making a promise to the environment to mark World Environment Day 2007.

Speaking on World Environment Day [5th June], Jo said:

"Climate change is a global issue. But tackling it starts at home.

"Over a quarter of the UK's carbon emissions come from heating, lighting and running power supplies in our homes. Small actions, such as saving water and switching off the lights can, when taken together, make a big difference.

"If everyone in the developed world makes even one small change to their daily life to reduce their energy use, such as not leaving the TV on standby or overfilling the kettle, that would make a huge difference to our global energy use and the amount of carbon we emit.

"Of course there is more the Government should be doing. The Liberal Democrats have set out plans for radically improving home energy efficiency, producing greener electricity and switching taxes from income to pollution and energy use. That is what we would do if we were in government.

"But there is action each of us can take now. This year I am making a personal commitment to boil only the water you need, rather than filling the kettle every time. While this may seem like a pretty small thing, if enough people do it we can save tremendous amounts of energy and water.

"I hope other local people will join me in making a green promise to mark World Environment Day 2007."

Notes to Editors

For more information on the Liberal Democrat Climate Change Starts at Home plan see http://www.libdems.org.uk/news/climate-change-starts-at-home-campaign.12418.html

For more information on the Liberal Democrat Green Tax Switch see http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/parliament/green_switch_180506.pdf

For more information on Liberal Democrat plans for green energy see http://www.libdems.org.uk/media/documents/parliament/Energy_MRV_Paper_Final%20Final1.doc

15 ways in which people can save energy and reduce their carbon footprint:

use energy-saving light bulbs
turn down the thermostat by one degree
take a shower instead of a bath
put a water saving device in your toilet
turn the tap off when brushing your teeth
use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones
use a reusable bag, rather than plastic carriers
dry washing by hanging it, rather than tumble drying
wash clothes at lower temperatures
draught-proof windows and doors
boil only the water you need, rather than filling the kettle every time
switch off TVs and other electrical appliances at the mains rather than leaving them on stand-by, and unplug mobile phone chargers when they are not in use
increase the amount you recycle - check with your council what they have recycling facilities for, it might be more than you think!
share car journeys to work with a colleague, cycle or replace those car journeys with public transport at least once a week
switch to a more environmentally friendly electricity supplier (e.g. the LibDems' national HQ in Westminster gets its electricity from Good Energy, which supplies only 100% renewable electricity from the natural energy of wind, sun, or running water)