Greenpeace ads ‘to debunk energy myths’

Greenpeace has rolled out the first in a series of ads forming part of a public information campaign as the nation awaits the result of the Government’s Energy Review, to be published next month.

Greenpeace has rolled out the first in a series of ads forming part of a public information campaign as the nation awaits the result of the Government’s Energy Review, to be published next month.

The press ads promote an alternative approach to tackling climate change and energy security through measures that the environmental group says would “dramatically cut energy waste in power stations, slash carbon-dioxide emissions and close the looming energy gap”.

The Energy Review will assess progress on goals set by the 2003 Energy White Paper. These include cutting UK carbon dioxide emissions by 60% by 2050 and maintaining the reliability of supply.

The Greenpeace campaign kicked off with national newspaper ads outlining how “two-thirds of energy wasted by UK power stations can be used to dramatically improve efficiency”. According to Greenpeace, the executions “seek to debunk common myths about how big a role nuclear power could play in providing Britain’s future energy needs or tackling climate change”. It also addresses issues such as security and waste disposal.

Greenpeace executive director Stephen Tindale says: “The Government and nuclear industry have been playing on the public’s very real worries about climate change to try to bounce them into reluctantly backing nuclear power despite the problems of cost, nuclear waste, threat of terrorist attack and accidents.” As part of the campaign, Greenpeace has produced a short film showing decentralised energy in action. It can be downloaded at www.greenpeace.org.uk/whatarewewaitingfor.