Carbon Emissions in Wolverhampton are unsustainable

10.53.33am GMT Fri 27th Oct 2006

Dramatic new figures revealed by the Liberal Democrats show that Wolverhampton is doing better than the country as a whole in keeping down emissions of the gases that cause climate change, but is still emitting more than twice as much carbon dioxide as the global average.

As part of the Liberal Democrat campaign for a Green Tax Switch, which could reduce the average family's tax bill by £1,000 a year - taxing pollution not people - Robin Lawrence, Park Ward Candidate and Chair of Wolverhampton South West Liberal Democrats, has published figures showing the carbon emissions per head of population in the borough, and how this compares to the national and global averages.

Robin Lawrence said "The Average resident of Wolverhampton emits 6.0 tonnes of carbon per person per year, although less than per cent less than the UK average of 9.3 tonnes per person, it is higher than both Cannock Chase and Tamworth at 5.4 tonnes per person and far higher than the global average of around 2.5 tonnes per person."

Robin added "This is a creditable record, but we need to go further to get down to a sustainable level that will stop climate chaos, rising sea levels and storms. The good news is that the technology is already there to do so by shifting to low carbon cars, saving energy in the home, and cutting down oil and gas at work. Through simple things like turning down the thermostat, using energy saving light bulbs and not leaving appliances on standby we can all help to save the environment and cut our energy bills. I urge everybody to make at least one commitment to energy saving today."

Robin concluded by saying "All the main political parties now agree that we have to tackle climate change, but only the Liberal Democrats have put forward firm plans to help us change our behaviour through tax incentives."