Climate change awareness campaign

The European Union's launched campaign throughout its member states challenging individuals to make small changes to their daily routine to achieve significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions is to be launched in the coming weeks.

The campaign entitled "You Control Climate Change" aims to give people a sense of personal responsibility and empowerment and help them contribute to the fight against climate change.

The need for change is highlighted by the fact that every year, every EU citizen is responsible for 11 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, among which almost nine tonnes are emissions of Carbon Dioxide (CO2). These emissions result largely from energy consumption by households and the use of private cars.

In Malta, the campaign was launched with a special event for children, which took place at the Valletta Waterfront recently. This event emphasised the four main themes of the campaign: 'Turn down. Switch off. Recycle. Walk.' Large posters carrying this message and showing the earth together with a rising thermostat are to be unveiled across the EU once the campaign is underway.