Pay a penny to save the planet

27 January 2006

Company aims to address climate change
Extra petrol money pays for green projects
Projects offset emissions from vehicles

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A company committed to climate change has spelled out the price of going green to motorists.

UK-based organisation Climate Care claims that car users can pay a penny and a half extra on a litre of fuel to fund projects that will offset pollution caused by their vehicles.

Climate Care was set up to help address the cause of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide. They do this by selling 'offsets' to businesses and individuals. The amount of money paid by businesses or individuals will go towards projects, such as reforestation, that will cancel out carbon dioxide emissions.

Other projects to offset carbon dioxide emissions include providing finance for renewable energy cooking stoves in schools in India and installing efficient lighting in households in South Africa.

A Department of the Environment and Rural Affairs spokesman said Defra supported companies involved in offset projects, but added: 'Offsets are no substitute for reducing emissions at the source, but companies such as Climate Care raise awareness of the impact emissions can have on the climate.'

He said that any plan to increase tax on fuels at filling stations to offset pollution was 'a matter for the treasury'.