carbon-info.org
Press Release
BBC urged to support failing Government in the fight against global warming.
12th March 2006
In an open letter to the BBC, a leading UK environment organisation has urged the BBC governors to consider how the BBC could take a more prominent role in combating global warming and climate change.
In the letter, Carbon-info’s chairman outlines the urgent need to mobilise the UK population in the fight against global warming, and how the government have failed to so because of its ineffective energy policies and unwillingness to deal with the problem head-on.
With its financial resources and ability to reach 98% of the UK population, the BBC is able to influence and mobilise individuals, who would otherwise be difficult to reach - even by established environment organisation.
A 2004 MORI poll found that only 8% of the public believe that the Government is proving them with all the information they need about global warming and climate change. The survey also found that nearly 80% had never heard of The Carbon Trust, the organisation created by the Government in 2001 to promote energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.
“We have to be realistic about what the government is able and willing to achieve”, said Carbon-info.org’s chairman. He continued, “There is therefore a real opportunity for other organisations like the BBC to get involved and take a leading role.“
The BBC recently launched “Ethical Man”, where a BBC journalist is faced with the challenge of living an ethical life and minimise the impact of his lifestyle on the environment and the planet as a whole.
Carbon-info’s steering committee have suggested that the BBC write global warming into the weekly soap storylines and create a daily global warming report, which tracks CO2 emissions, world temperature and sea level rises.
