City group’s mission to save planet

7:50am Tuesday 20th February 2007

ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners aim to make York a low-carbon city as they set up a local group to combat climate change.

The York Carbon Rationing Action Group (CRAG) will hold its first meeting at the end of this month.

It is part of a growing national network of groups which aims to cut the carbon emissions created by its members.

Alex Bavister-Gould, 27, a postgraduate student at the University of York, who has set up the York group, said: "Hopefully, the scheme will make you think about that extra journey or buying fruit that has been flown from New Zealand. I am sure there are enough people in York to get interested and we can reduce the city's carbon output."

Members of the CRAG group are committed to reducing their "carbon footprint" - the amount of carbon dioxide they produce - by a set amount, usually ten per cent.

They try to reach the reduced figure by changing their lifestyles.

If people exceed their target they contribute cash to a group fund that goes towards a carbon-offsetting project.

Mr Bavister-Gould said: "It does not require you to be a great campaigner or anything, but it gives you the chance of doing something on an individual level.

"It is just a way of trying to make people aware that they can reduce their carbon emissions.

"Hopefully, if we can get enough people willing to do it then it might make the Government act.

"They are trying to persuade businesses to reduce their carbon output, but if individuals do not do the same then it is not going to be enough."

The news comes only days after a report by scientists at the University of York showed older people in the city and North Yorkshire are worried about climate change, but are frustrated about how to take action.

The survey - called Greening The Greys - was commissioned as part of Climate Talk, a year-long project to discover the older generation's attitudes towards global warming.

It showed that people over 50 have the largest carbon footprint of any sector of the population but worry about the world their grandchildren will inherit.

For more information about the York CRAG, visit www.carbonrationing.org.uk or send an email to yorkcrag@yahoo.co.uk

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