We might all be trying our best to keep our new year's resolutions (unless you've already caved in and forgotten about the [gym membership/recycling scheme/diet - delete as appropriate] already). But there is something we cannot fix by ourselves and that's the fact that by the end of today, Friday 13th January, the average person in Britain will have emitted as much carbon dioxide as the average person in Kenya will in an ENTIRE YEAR!
Recent data released by the World Development Movement shows that Kenya's annual per capita carbon emissions at 0.293 tons, while the UK's are 8.351 tons. And despite having such little responsibility for causing climate change, Kenyans are facing some of the worst weather related disasters globally. For instance, last year Kenya and neighbouring East African countries suffered their worst drought in 60 years, resulting in a severe food crisis.
Deborah Doane, director of the World Development Movement, said: "This is a stark reminder of the UK's responsibility for climate change. Developing countries like Kenya make almost no contribution to the problem, yet they face the worst consequences. Meanwhile the UK is failing to make sufficient emissions cuts or to meet its obligations to help poorer countries cope with the effects of climate change."
Campaigners are calling on the UK government to honour its promise to be the 'greenest government ever' by meeting its commitments to reducing emissions under the Climate Change Act. Developing countries have already pledged to make emissions cuts 30 to 50 per cent higher than those of rich countries like the UK, despite their per person emissions being a fraction of those of developing countries.
Now we of course know that our sweet Hippyshopper readers are doing what they can for the environment - and we love you for it - but the figures from the World Development Movement are startling nonetheless.
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