Chelmsford Community Environmental Trust is urging people to take action to help ensure a sustainable future.

In a New Year message Robert Jones, chairman of the trust said that the key issues were saving energy, cutting road use and reducing household waste.

He said that the year 2000 has provided "a few unpleasant environmental shocks."

Three areas of particular concern had been the failure of nations to reach an agreement on sustainability commitments, the consequences of global climate change and the realisation through the petrol crisis of the dangerous level of dependence on fossil fuel.

"We have been criminally complacent about how our public transport is organised and managed," said Mr Jones.

"The increasing congestion on our roads, the extra hours we have to put aside for journeys and the discovery of even more traffic black spots where you can even taste the air pollution should make us all more determined to act."

On a positive note, Mr Jones said: "It is heartening to see so many households participating in waste reduction and re-cycling schemes. It is also heartening to see car-sharing acceptance.

"The so far mild winter has meant that even the most obdurate non-committed have reduced their heating bills.

"However, domestic electricity demand for household appliances continues its relentless rise.

"In the UK, televisions and videos left on standby use the output of five major power stations.

"This is just one example of seemingly insignificant personal carelessness adding up to a very significant collective scandal."

Mr Jones said that in 2001 Chelmsford Community Environmental Trust would be moving forward with its sustainability agenda with initiatives including traffic reduction and a service for local businesses.

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