Gloucestershire wins accolade for environmental efforts

Gloucestershire has been recognised by a national campaign for its commitment to reducing carbon emissions.

The 10:10 campaign was launched in September 2009 by a group of businesses and celebrities to get people to reduce their carbon footprint by 10% in 2010.

Organisers said local efforts in Gloucestershire had prompted them to make it their first 10:10 county.

A spokeswoman said the county had "led the way in unifying different people" who were taking part in the campaign.

Share advice

National coordinator Harriet Bell said: "With so many businesses and organisations in the area signed up to the campaign, there's an ideal opportunity to share advice and encourage one another in the bid to reduce emissions.

"Gloucestershire County Council is really doing its bit to join the dots and take 10:10 to the next level."

A certificate confirming Gloucestershire as the first 10:10 county was presented to county council leader Mark Hawthorne.

He said: "As a council we're committed to addressing climate change wherever we can, but this is much bigger than us.

"It's about everyone in the county doing their bit to cut carbon and we'll do all we can to support that."

Local efforts have included Gloucester Cathedral announcing it is to start buying "green" electricity from the start of 2011 and Cotswold District Council giving staff chocolates as a reward for turning their computer monitors off.