1,400,000 - That's the equivalent number of long-haul plane flights that Lewes MP and Lib Dem Shadow Environment Secretary Norman Baker reveals it would take to generate the amount of carbon pumped into the atmosphere each year to power electrical appliances left in 'stand-by' mode. These shocking figures - revealed to Norman by Defra Minister Elliot Morley in response to a Parliamentary Question he tabled, increase the pressure on the Government to take urgent action to improve their record on cutting emissions of greenhouse gases after Defra figures released last month showed Britain's annual contribution to global carbon emissions had increased.
Commenting on this, Norman says:
"Carbon emissions have been proven to make a serious contribution to global warming which threatens the existence of our planet as we know it and the British Government - as a signatory to the Kyoto treaty and also through setting its own targets on carbon emissions - has a commitment to cutting them.
"Yet so far, they have been slow to act and work to cut emissions levels by encouraging people to reduce the amount of energy they use both in the office and at home. Simple measures like turning off electrical appliances such as TVs - some of which use eight times more power on stand-by than when switched off - will make a massive difference in our energy consumption.
"These figures show that it's time for the Government to finally sit up and take more concerted action to introduce measures which will encourage manufacturers, suppliers and consumers to all cut back on the amount of energy they use in the home and at work. The message must be 'tune in, switch off and help save the planet' - and in the process make a substantial saving to your own pocket."
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Norman Baker,
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East Sussex,
BN7 2LJ.
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Fax: (01273) 480287.
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