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Households Could Get Carbon Audits

Posted: 07/08/2006

Individual carbon audits may be handed out to UK households in a bid to reduce their contribution to global warming, says Tony Blair. Speaking to BBC Radio 1's news programme, The Prime Minister said that the Government was looking at the idea, which he believes could encourage carbon-reducing measures in households across the country.

Blair said he had already made an effort to "set an example" by installing low-energy lightbulbs and turning the thermostats down by one degree at 10 Downing Street. Individuals could not simply leave the job of tackling climate change to the authorities.

"It isn't just about Government, it's also about individuals," he said. "I mean, if each household had three energy-saving light bulbs, the energy saved would be equivalent to all the street lighting in Britain. You know, there are very simple things we can do to make a difference in our lives. For everyone who turns down their thermostat by one degree on their heating, you know, if we all did that, we could make a huge difference."

Carbon audits could play a vital role in spurring people to make changes in their own lifestyles, by demonstrating to them the degree to which their households are already adding to global warming, he said. "We're looking at how you make this really widespread for people, so you get a kind of movement going of people knowing how much carbon is emitted from their own household and how they can reduce it. A lot of it's about information to people, because I think people kind of do want to do the right thing, but they kind of look at climate change and think: 'This is so enormous and it's global, how the hell can I do anything about it?'"

Robin Oakley of Greenpeace was unimpressed. He said: "Once again we find the Prime Minister posturing for a green audience, but promising little real action. He tells us he's turned the thermostat down and fitted energy efficient lightbulbs at home, but unless Number 10 becomes an engine for policy changes designed to slash emissions across the UK he will rightly be accused of hypocrisy.

"His aviation White Paper urges airport expansion, more cars than ever are on our roads and while he talks about the contribution micro-generation can make, the funding needed to develop and install this and other clean, efficient technology is about to be spent on new nuclear power stations instead.

"Tony Blair will only be Prime minister for a short while longer. He should use that time to set the whole of Britain on a low-carbon course, not just his own house."

Friends of the Earth's Mike Childs was not in complete agreement either, considering that action by individuals, though useful, is not enough. Childs said: "Everyone can do their bit to tackle the challenge of climate change, but the Prime Minister knows that personal action alone is not enough. What we need is action at a government level which will dramatically reduce carbon emissions for everyone. Emissions in the UK have risen since he came to power and he has done little to change that.

"Climate change is the greatest challenge facing our society and that is why everyone, including the Government, has a role to play. Friends of the Earth is calling for new laws to commit this Government and future governments to year-on-year emission cuts, to ensure that climate change is brought under control."

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