Stafford Residents Produce More Carbon Emissions Than the National Average

9.41.15pm GMT Mon 30th Oct 2006

Barry Stamp is helping to tackle carbon emissions in his home by fitting energy efficient light bulbs

Within hours of the Stern Report on climate changes being made public dramatic new figures have been revealed by the Liberal Democrats which show that Stafford is producing 17.9% more than the national average of the gases that cause the problem.

As part of the Liberal Democrat campaign to tackle climate change by switching taxation away from personal taxes to taxing pollution, Barry Stamp Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Spokesperson for Stafford has published figures showing the carbon emissions per head of population in the borough, and how this compares to the national and global averages.

"With a population of just under 122,000, Stafford Borough is emitting 1,334,600 tonnes of carbon each year on the latest official figures. This puts us at 10.9 tonnes of carbon per person per year compared with a national average for the UK of 9.3 tonnes per person. To make matters worse the global average is around 2.5 tonnes! While some of the carbon emissions in Stafford Borough come from industry and transport a large amount is generated in the home and we can all play our part in helping to make reductions there. We just can't keep on consuming and polluting at this rate if we want a world fit for our children and grandchildren to live in. Carbon emissions are the key problem causing global warming and all of us need to try far harder if we are to meet the national target of a 60% cut in carbon emissions by 2050. A target on which all major political parties have agreed."

"Simple things like turning down the thermostat, using energy saving light bulbs and not leaving appliances on standby can all help to save the environment and at the same time cut our energy bills. I challenge everybody to make at least one commitment to energy saving today."

"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," said Barry Stamp