Camberley: Worst Carbon Polluter in the Country (Surrey Heath Liberal Democrats

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Camberley: Worst Carbon Polluter in the Country

August 22, 2009 5:54 PM

Camberley produces 28% more carbon emissions per head than the UK average.

According to a report issued by "GreenAware", Camberley generates more carbon emissions per head of population than any other town in the UK. Local Lib Dems say that the local community as a whole needs to become more aware of the climate change issue. And they call on Surrey Heath Council to take more of a lead, and to sign up to the "Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change" as a good first step.

Camberley in Surrey produces the most carbon emissions per head of the population in the UK, followed by Maidenhead, High Wycombe and Farnham. Households in Camberley produce almost 28% more carbon emissions than the UK average. The least polluting UK households are located in South Shields, East Ham, Cheapside and Merthyr Tydfil.

These findings are from GreenAware, the UK's first comprehensive carbon footprint measure for every household and postcode in the UK. GreenAware has been developed by Experian in collaboration with the Stockholm Environment Institute and provides a comprehensive view of individual consumption and environmental impact by UK household and postcode.

90% of local authorities are committed to doing their bit on Climate Change. Surrey Heath is not one of them

Commenting on the news, Duncan Clark, Lib Dem Group Leader at Surrey Heath Council said: "Climate Change is not someone else's problem. We are fortunate to live in an affluent area such as Surrey Heath, but that also means that our impact on the environment is higher. We need to become more aware of what each of us can do to mitigate our impact on climate change.

"I call on Surrey Heath Council to take the lead on this. Local authorities can and should act as leaders in their areas to promote environmentally-sensible behaviour, and they need to start with a public commitment to reduce emissions in activities under their direct control. That means signing up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change."

The Nottingham Declaration was originally established by a group of local authorities meeting in Nottingham. Councils that sign the declaration commit themselves to improve their own environmental performance by publishing targets and monitoring progress; and to act as a champion locally, working with other local bodies to consider the effects of climate change and identify ways to adapt. Further information can be found at http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/nottingham.

Duncan Clark continued: "In 2005, the Council turned down the recommendation of its officers and its own Environment Committee to sign up to the Nottingham Declaration. Some 90% of all other local authorities have signed up, including all the neighboring councils, such as Rushmoor, Hart, Woking & Waverley. It is late, but we urge the Council to make this first step to taking climate change seriously."