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Householders have 'worst carbon footprint'
RESIDENTS of Chesham and Amersham have been named as having the worst carbon footprint than anyone else in the country.
A new survey has said householders living in the political constituency covering the two towns produce the most carbon dioxide - with the average home giving out 29.18 tonnes every year.
Research by data analysts Experian, which found a direct link between wealth and willingness to help the environment, showed the the towns to be top of the league with Henley, Oxfordshire, coming in second place and nearby Beaconsfield, which produces 28.79 tonnes annually, ranked third.
The revelations come at a time with the subject is under international scrutiny as world leaders are due to meet in Copenhagen to talk about combating global warming.
Mayor of Chesham Justine Fulford, said: "It has long been understood that carbon production is related to consumption, and consumption is highest among the wealthy. As this constituency has one of the highest per-capita average annual income, it's not a big surprise that we are at the top of the rankings for carbon production. Understandable but not, of course, acceptable.
"We need to do a lot more to raise awareness of our personal responsibilities and one of the best places to start is in school. It would be great if every school felt able to take the message from the Chesham in Transition group, and get the children to promote the 10/10 pledge amongst their families."
A demonstration on the climate talks took place in Sycamore Road, Amersham-on-the-Hill on Saturday. Organiser Russ Fleming, a retired lecturer of Greenwood Close, hopes to start a campaign to make Amersham a 'transitional green town' next year. He said he was 'shocked and disgusted' to hear the area had the worst carbon footprint in the country. He said: "We want to get some support and attention focussed on Copenhagen and to realise locally we are taking climate change for granted.
"We are really campaigning for a fair, ambitious and legally binding international agreement. This climate science warns that if nations fail to cut and maintain global CO2 emissions to 350 parts per million overall, climate catastrophes and a future of misery for our children, the animals and flora, and all forms of life in our world will follow. We have the technological means, but so far, not the willingness of enough citizens to act to help prevent this happening, particularly in south Bucks."
Mr Fleming is holding a public meeting to try to encourage residents to cut their carbon footprint by at least ten per cent. It takes place at 7.30pm on January 7 in Café Africa, in Chesham Road, Amersham.
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Then again maybe CO2 has nothing to do with global warming. Maybe it's not actually getting any warmer. Maybe it would be nice if people would stop pushing propaganda at our children.