Save Warwickshire A Tonne

A new campaign called Save Warwickshire A Tonne (SWAT) is being launched today to help Warwickshire residents go greener by saving a tonne of CO2.

The year-long campaign to tackle climate change aims to raise awareness of how simple measures within the home, garden, business, school and travel can save both carbon and cash.

SWAT is the brainchild of Warwickshire County Council which has set up a dedicated SWAT team with its partner organisations Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council, Warwick District Council, Rugby Borough Council, Stratford District Council, North Warwickshire Borough Council, community groups and Act on Energy.

Throughout the year it will host a series initiatives and events including Dine by Candlelight in October with local restaurants and the Universally Challenged eco-quiz with county schools.

The campaign centres around four main themes: energy, transport, composting and growing your own food.

It will have initiatives targeted at saving energy in the home, reducing greenhouse gases produced through energy production, and cutting down energy bills.

SWAT will also encourage people to choose sustainable travel methods, compost in the garden to save on waste going to landfill and reduce methane gases, and grow food to cut down on carbon emissions by not driving supermarkets for food which has often been transported hundreds of miles.

Launching the campaign Cllr Alan Cockburn, Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder for Environment and Economy, said: "Save Warwickshire A Tonne is a chance for everyone in the county to do their bit for the environment.

"Over the next year we want to help Warwickshire residents, schools and businesses to each save a tonne of CO2, as well as saving a ton of cash in the process."

SWAT follows on from the successful award-winning Switch it Off campaign which encourages people to turn off electrical appliances which are not in use.

The reason for the new campaign is largely down to climate change predictions which show that without severe cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, the world will increasingly be hit by drought, flooding and famine. Many countries are already suffering from the effects of climate change, and so this is an issue of social justice as well as a call to take environmental action.

The 2008 Climate Change Act made Britain the first country in the world to set legally binding carbon budgets aiming to cut UK emissions by 34 per cent by 2020 and at least 80 per cent by 2050.

To find out more, make a pledge or find out about the various initiatives, visit the website at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/swat