‘No-one can imagine what a tonne of carbon looks like’

Talking about CO2 emissions in the context of tonnes of carbon means nothing to the man or woman in the street and is unhelpful in getting across energy efficiency messages. […]

Talking about CO2 emissions in the context of tonnes of carbon means nothing to the man or woman in the street and is unhelpful in getting across energy efficiency messages.

So said a waste management specialist at a sustainability conference.

Paul Levett, deputy chief executive of Veolia, said: “No-one can imagine what a tonne of carbon looks like. More tangible examples need to be put out there.”

Mr Levett told a seminar on the low carbon economy on Thursday that recycling facilities already played a vital part in cutting emissions, and held up the example of Sheffield, where all the major hotels and universities are heated from waste sources.

Latest Podcast