"I always go on a diet in January to lose weight, and this year was no exception. In fact I lost a couple of stone. In addition, in 2008 I also continued my carbon diet to lose a Tonne of Carbon.
Harriett Baldwin said, "My personal carbon footprint remains biggest in the area of travel. As a parliamentary candidate I drive extensively around the West Worcestershire constituency, which stretches from Sedgeberrow to Tenbury Wells.
Added to this, our annual family holiday and the trip I made to Rwanda as a volunteer means that my carbon footprint was more than twice the national average in 2008. This year my only business travel was by train and this has reduced my carbon footprint a bit. To be a Zero Carbon Parliamentary Candidate in 2008 I have used Tree Appeal UK to plant 22 broad leaf trees at Hill Court Farm, Upton-upon-Severn in Worcestershire. This is a small improvement on last year when I had to plant 23 trees.
In 2009, we plan to holiday in the UK and I don't yet know about Rwanda. However, until I need a new car and find one that emits much less than the 173g/km that my current car does, I suspect I will still be over the national average. Doing this exercise each year makes me realise how challenging the UK's carbon reduction ambitions are."
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