Campaigners are saying that pushing clocks in the UK ahead one hour would save hundreds of thousands of tonnes in CO2 emissions each year.
According to the 10:10 climate campaign’s research, moving clocks further by one hour during the winter months could prevent 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide being emitted. Additionally, they argue it will reduce electricity demands at peak times and make for lighter evenings. The study, researched at Cambridge University, is being printed in the journal Energy Policy.
Researchers have concluded that decreasing carbon emissions by 450,000 tonnes would be the same as removing 200,000 vehicles from Britain’s roads. The Lighter Later campaign wants to see clocks permanently changed, saying that moving clocks forward in summer - two hours in advance of GMT - would also see a change in the country’s carbon footprint.
Head of research at Cambridge for the campaign, Dr Elizabeth Garnsey said that the carbon savings involved with changing the clocks would be the same as removing 1,800 plastic bags each year from every British household or the equivalent of taking 200,000 cars off the roads. Research will be presented next Monday at an event for Parliament.
Director for the 10:10 campaign, Eugenie Harvey said that long summer days in the UK are cherished and making evenings lighter would benefit everyone. The Lighter Later campaign said moving clocks forward would also save lives as well as energy by making roads safer in the evenings.
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