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THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH....AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH

Our planet is surrounded by a blanket of gases which keeps the surface of the earth warm and able to sustain life. This blanket is getting progressively thicker, trapping in heat as we release greenhouse gases, mainly carbon dioxide. As a result our climate is starting to change and, as people in this country well know, we are experiencing more intense periods of weather resulting in either droughts or floods. This is equally true across the world.

Scientific research indicates that this pattern is likely to continue. As a result we will see a gradual increase in temperatures which will have a major impact for ecosystems, growing seasons, animals and their habitats. Concentrations of greenhouse gases are now higher than at any point in the past 800,000 years. Greenhouse gases are pollutants that occur naturally in the atmosphere but also as a result of human activity. They include water vapour, methane, nitrus oxide and ozone, but the main greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide which is produced when we burn fossil fuels such as coal, gas, and oil to use for energy.

It is calculated that in just the last 200 years, the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has increased by 30 per cent. It is true to say that some changes to the climate are inevitable – even if we stop emitting gases now, the gases we have already released are likely to have an effect. However, we can all make a definite difference to slow it down in the future. With some adaptation to our lifestyles – both at home and in business – we can achieve a new balance that will be more beneficial to the long term survival of our planet.

What the Government and Business are doing

The most significant piece of legislation is the ‘Climate Change Bill’ which puts into statute the UK’s targets to reduce carbon dioxide emissions through domestic and international action by at least 60 per cent by 2050 and at least 26 per cent by 2020, against a 1990 baseline.

There are a number of schemes and policies that will mean that Government and Businesses will be legally obliged to cut down their carbon emissions.

The Climate Change Levy

Public and private sector organisations…except the very smallest businesses…have to pay a tax on the energy they use.

EU Emissions Trading Scheme

Large carbon emitters (such as power stations and refineries) have to take part in this EU wide scheme to reduce carbon emissions in an efficient way.

Carbon Reduction Commitment

Large non-energy intensive companies (such as supermarkets and high street chains) and large public sector organisations (such as county councils and universities) will have to take part in this scheme which aims to reduce carbon.

Climate Change Agreements

Energy intensive businesses (such as the steel industry) have entered into formal agreements with the Government to reduce their energy use and carbon emissions.

Improved building energy efficiency

Under stricter building regulations new buildings must be more energy efficient.

Leading by example The public sector is required by the EU Energy Services Directive to play an 'exemplary role' on energy use. Many parts of the public sector have also committed to targets to reduce their energy use and carbon emission. Power companies have to supply an increasing proportion of renewable "green" electricity year on year.

An Inconvenient Truth

If you have not seen this film, a lecture presented by former US Vice President Al Gore, then you certainly should do. Global warming is a real danger, argues Gore, and human civilisation is the root cause of it. Gore’s advice is for individuals to take steps to reduce their own inadvertent poisoning of the atmosphere, and to persuade others to do likewise.

We have 50 copies of the 2006 DVD to giveaway – please email us with your name and address details.