This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Do a Little - Change a Lot
01/03/2004
The latest phase of the Executive's Do a Little, Change
a Lot environmental awareness campaign begins today.
The DALCAL campaign, now in its fourth year, is aimed at
raising the public's awareness of the environment by
pointing out the small changes which we can all make to our
daily routine that can lead to environmental benefits.
The poster campaign, which will run throughout Scotland
for two weeks, will focus on the issues of energy
efficiency and waste. It will deal with important
environmental issues such as recycling and climate
change.
Allan Wilson, Deputy Minister for the Environment,
said:
"The Scottish Executive has put the environment and
environmental issues at the heart of public policy. It is
clear that climate change poses a very serious threat to
our planet.
"Scotland will be impacted directly but we will also
feel the effects of impacts on other countries. If we are
to avoid some of the worst consequences of climate change
we must stop wasting energy.
"Energy is a valuable resource and yet we seem intent on
letting the life-blood of our homes and businesses trickle
away. There are no excuses for wasting energy.
"The latest DALCAL campaign makes clear to everyone how
by making simple changes like not overfilling kettles,
turning down heating thermostats and using washing machines
at a lower temperature we can save energy, save money and
more importantly help to preserve the planet for future
generations.
"The Executive also recognises the importance of waste
awareness and education. Raising awareness of waste and
educating people is crucial in encouraging people to
participate in recycling or composting schemes.
"All of us have to make real changes to the way we
handle our waste and the way in which we regard waste.
Waste can be a resource: not just rubbish.
"Helping Scotland's environment could be easier than you
think. Small actions can make a big difference- we can all
do a little and change a lot."
Climate change is widely recognised as the greatest
environmental threat to our planet. Rising concentrations
of greenhouse gases from the burning of fossil fuels - in
power stations, by industry and through transport use - are
contributing to warming of the atmosphere, resulting in a
noticeable effect on the Earth's climate.
Scotland is expected to become warmer, and wetter
winters will bring an increased risk of flooding. Average
snowfall will decrease and snow-less winters may become
normal in some parts. Such changes will impact on the
Scottish environment, economy and society.
Research carried out for the Executive in 2002 shows
that 67 per cent of Scots surveyed were worried about
global warming. The
Do a Little: Change a Lot campaign seeks
to translate this concern into practical, positive changes
in behaviour.
The ultimate driving force for energy, industrial and
transport emissions is human consumption but relatively
small lifestyle changes by everyone can add up to a big
difference for our environment.
Filling your kettle with only the water needed, using a
lower temperature washing machine setting and ensuring that
heating is set to the recommended 18-21 degrees centigrade
(23 degrees centigrade for elderly and infirm households)
are actions that help to reduce energy demand and the
associated climate-changing emissions. Doing so will reduce
the estimated £5 billion of household energy wasted in the
UK every year.
The Executive published the National Waste Plan
setting out the Executive's policies for sustainable waste
management and also lays down challenging targets to
recycle or compost 25% of municipal waste by 2006 and
reduce the landfilling of biodegradable waste collected by
local authorities to 1.5 million tonnes by 2006.
The Executive is also taking action to transform
Scotland's record on waste reduction, recycling, composting
and recovery. We are committed to reducing our dependence
on landfill and we are investing over £230 million over
three years through the Strategic Waste Fund to help
achieve that.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency's (SEPA) 24
hour Waste Action Line provides information on waste
management - Freephone 0800-389-5270.
There will be special 3-D animated versions of the
DALCAL posters constructed at the following sites:
- Edinburgh - Roseburn Terrace, Morrison Street and
Westfield Road
- Aberdeen - Great Northern Road
- Dundee - Clepington Road
- Glasgow - Scotland Street