Harriett Baldwin, Conservative Parliamentary Candidate for West Worcestershire has continued her "Carbon Diet" in 2009 and has lost more tonnes of carbon from her life. She has also planted 17 broad-leaf trees in the local area with www.treeappeal.com to offset the remaining emissions and reduce her carbon footprint to zero.
The 17 broad-leaf trees offset the carbon created by her life as a Parliamentary Candidate. This is a 23% reduction from last year when she had to plant 22. In 2007 she planted 23.
Harriett Baldwin said, "The main reason for the 23% reduction this year is that we had our family holiday in Cornwall, rather than flying overseas. I have also been more diligent about switching off lights and plug switches, which has lowered the electricity bills and cut emissions. We recycle and compost. Finally, I managed to hold off turning on the central heating until the end of October. However, I still have above-average carbon emissions because I drive such a lot around West Worcestershire. My current car emits 173 g/km and I am not planning to buy a new one until it gives out. This will be the most promising area for reductions in the future.
Doing this exercise each year makes me realise how challenging the UK's carbon reduction ambitions are."
