NEW YEAR'S REVOLUTION

28-12-2006

With the government introducing a new website today encouraging us to live amore eco-friendlylifestyle, Edward Cameron has decided to follow their advice. But at the same time he wonders if their green credentials amount to no more than naivety.

It's one of my New Year's resolutions to be more green and help the environment.

I've read The Independent enough over the last year, and its repeated front page leads about climate change have gotten me hot under the collar about global warming.

I just thank my stars I read that rather than the Express' daily dose of "Princess Diana Was Murdered" conspiracies, but that'sbeside the point.

This week the government is going to unveil measures to help individuals tackle climate change and adopt greener lifestyles.

Today's announcement by environment secretary David Miliband includes the launch of an on-line guide to greener living on Directgov.

A carbon calculator to help the little people like you and me find out how much carbon we emit annually from our actions is also being developed.

The guide includes actions that can be taken covering the home, shopping, travel, food and drink, waste and recycling, energy and water saving, gardening, as well as being green in your workplace, school and community.

Miliband said the Stern Review had made it clear that there was an urgent need for everyone to tackle climate change. Individuals had an important role to play as 40 per cent of carbon emissions stem from their actions.

He said: "Awareness of climate change is now higher than ever and there is a real acceptance among people of the need to take action. We all need to take action to change our lifestyles. We need to think about the
way we use energy in our homes and in the way we travel.

"Providing a reliable, easy to understand online resource is one way to help people find out about what they can do to tackle climate change. There are lots of different things individuals can do to reduce the harm their lifestyles do to the environment".

Well thanks Dave that's all great. But let's not forget that just across the Atlantic our special friends the Americans have still not signed up to the Kyoto pledge.

Around the Black Country the few remaining steel manufacturers are giving themselves headaches as big as girders over reaching the 2010 carbon reduction targets Miliband has already laid down.

The fear among many is that manufacturers who use steel will go overseas to countries that have not signed up to Kyoto and won't be bothered with the huge taxes they will be charged for failing to be green.

On one hand Miliband is right. We all have a duty to stop climate change. But on the same hand he's missing the point. We ALL have a duty. One country cutting its emissions in a world of polluters is about as effective as one resident sweeping her drive in a street filled with burned out cars and chewing gum.

The online guide to greener living can be found at www.direct.gov.uk/greenerliving