Cutting carbon
10% at a time
Coalition government announces 10:10 climate change commitment : 13 May
As part of its initial policy announcement, the new Lib-Con coalition government today confirmed its support for the 10:10 campaign with a specific commitment to reduce central government carbon emissions by 10 per cent within a year of coming to office.
The government estate covers 250,000 hectares and is responsible for as much CO2 as the whole of Liverpool. A 10% saving would add up to around 600,000 tonnes of CO2 each year, equivalent to taking more than 200,000 cars off the road.
Both parties threw their weight behind 10:10 back in September 2009, with Nick Clegg, David Cameron and many of their MPs signing up to reduce their personal carbon footprints – along with the government's entire emissions were they to come to power.
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats even voted together in October to sign up the Houses of Parliament to reduce its own emissions by 10%.
Eugenie Harvey, campaign director of 10:10, said: “This is the first announcement the coalition has made, and the inclusion of their 10:10 commitment bodes well for the importance they’ll place on carbon reduction this term. We’re glad to see they’re walking the walk”.
ABOUT 10:10
- 10:10 is an ambitious project to unite every sector of British society behind one simple idea: that by working together we can achieve a 10% cut in the UK’s carbon emissions each year.
- 10:10 was conceived by the team behind climate blockbuster The Age Of Stupid and is run by a small independent team, supported by an army of volunteers and a dream team of partner organisations including Comic Relief, the Energy Saving Trust, the Carbon Trust, the Public Interest Research Centre and many more.
- It’s easy to feel powerless in the face of a huge problem like climate change, but by bringing individual actions together under one banner, 10:10 enables everyone to make a meaningful difference. Launched in September 2009, the campaign has, to date, garnered the support of over 70,000 individuals and 2,500 businesses, including household names such as Sony, Adidas and Starbucks, and celebrities ranging from Delia Smith to Mark Ronson.10:10has been making waves in both central and local Government, counting many MPs and Government departments in its ranks as well as one in three UK councils.
- Each month 10:10 will focus on different ways to reduce your carbon emissions, offering expert advice on everything from insulation to recycling.
- 10:10 has joined forces with 350.org – who last year pulled off 5,200 events in 181 countries – to coordinate the biggest-ever global day of action on climate change, on October 10, 2010 (10.10.10).
For further information visit: www.1010uk.org or www.1010uk.org/1010/press
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