Campaign aims to get businesses to cut carbon by 10 per cent in 2010

The campaign, dubbed '10:10' is the brainchild of The Age of Stupid filmmaker, Franny Armstrong. It has been launched on the back of reports from experts that claim that a 10 per cent cut in UK emissions is needed by the end of 2010 to avoid climate catastrophe.
 
Many big businesses have already given their backing to 10:10, but the campaign is urging other UK businesses to join it, by pledging on the campaign website to reduce carbon emissions by 10 per cent in 2010. In practice, 10:10 is hoping companies will cut three per cent or more because of the difficulties some businesses might face in reaching the 10 per cent target in just one year.

The campaign, which is also being backed by some politicians and celebrities, is asking businesses to report on their carbon footprints in four key areas: electricity, on-site fuel use, road transport and air travel, at the end of next year. It is urging them to encourage staff, customers and suppliers to also get involved.

The campaign believes this is a win-win situation for UK businesses. A statement issued today said: “We hope you will manage to do more but we recognise that many progressive companies that have made significant cuts already will find it hard to achieve further deep cuts in 2010, which is why we will celebrate any cuts of three per cent or greater.”

It goes on to say any large company, which does cut 10 per cent next year, will “have broken the record for private sector emissions cuts and will be hailed as a climate hero".
 
Armstrong was  inspired to launch the 10:10 campaign by articles written by Guardian columnist, George Monbiot, who has set out the radical policies needed to rapidly cut UK emissions, as well a report by the Public Interest Research Centre, which identified that a 10 per cent cut in UK emissions was needed by the end of 2010 to avoid climate catastrophe. 10:10 believes it will not be possible to reach the 80 per cent carbon target by 2050 "without the right action now – and that means cuts of about 10 per cent in the very near future".

“The writing is on the wall for carbon-hungry business practices," the statement said. "Using less energy will increase profits. You’ll save money now as your bills shrink; you’ll save money in the future when laws force everyone else to catch up with you; and you’ll make money by keeping staff and winning customers from rivals who don’t seem to be doing their bit.”