• Issue 2

London emits more carbon dioxide per square kilometre than any other city in the UK, new research shows. A total of 50,754,000 tonnes of C02 are pumped into the atmosphere across the capital with business accounting for 42% of that figure. The online carbon map - unveiled today by the Carbon Trust - charts carbon dioxide emissions as a result of human activity across the country.

Every major city in the UK is represented on the map's 33 ‘hotspots' each emitting between 1,995 - 6,500,000 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Greater Manchester comes in second worst after London, releasing over 17 million tonnes of CO2 annually while Birmingham is third, belching out nearly 7 million tonnes. Aberystwyth performed best with 696,000 tonnes of C02.

Tom Delay, Chief Executive of the Carbon Trust, said: "Business has a critical role to play in tackling climate change as it is responsible for approximately 40 per cent of CO2 emissions in the UK and poor energy efficiency costs business an estimated £2 billion annually."

The carbon map was commissioned by the Carbon Trust to help cities analyse their carbon footprint. Its release coincides with the launch of a new Carbon Trust campaign to encourage British business to take action on climate change.

Responding to the publication of the map, a spokesman for the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) said: "Companies recognise they have a central role to play, alongside households, in tackling climate change. The important thing is that all firms think about what they can do to reduce their carbon footprint. Many are already taking big steps, and the CBI has established a task force of major UK companies to identify further action that can be taken."

Environmental groups have welcomed the new map. “What it neatly illustrates is the proportion of greenhouse emissions that comes from domestic activity. This is something we can all do something to reduce – although Government and business will be at the heart of responding to climate change, everyday energy saving is an important part of avoiding catastrophic climate change,” said Charlie Kronick, Greenpeace UK Climate Campaign Manager.

The findings presented in the carbon map are based on 2004 figures which were compiled as part of the National Atmospheric Emission Inventory (NAEI) programme.

The carbon map can be accessed at: www.carbonmap.co.uk