TODAY is World Environment Day and organisations across the county are taking steps to make Suffolk greener and cut down on CO2 emissions.

TODAY is World Environment Day and organisations across the county are taking steps to make Suffolk greener and cut down on CO2 emissions.

A new map published by the Carbon Trust has revealed that Ipswich produces 826,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide a year, or more than 2,200 tonnes per day.

It is estimated that around 45per cent of the town's total comes from business and the public sector.

However, according Ipswich Borough Council environment head Matthew Ling, it is difficult to draw any firm conclusions from figures in isolation.

He said: “It is better in many ways to calculate carbon emissions per person. The average British person creates about nine tonnes of CO2 a year. If you create more than that then it is not good, if you are below that figure it is better.”

And he said any surveys needed to take account of the level of industry in a community.

Dr Ling said: “If you were to look at Suffolk as a whole you would find that Bury St Edmunds has a very large carbon footprint because of the Greene King brewery and the British Sugar factory.

“They are very heavy energy users, but they are producing commodities that are used over much of the country and that doesn't make Bury an unattractive place.”

Free low-energy light bulbs were being given away at council offices across Suffolk today to mark World Environment Day.

In exchange, people will be asked to sign a personal CO2 reduction pledge.

The aim is to give away 2,000 of the light bulbs, which will save 66 tonnes of carbon dioxide over a year.

You can pick up low-energy bulb at Ipswich Borough Council's Customer Service Centre, Cornhill until 6pm, Mid Suffolk District Council offices at Stowmarket and Needham Market, until 5pm, and Suffolk Coastal District Council's offices in Undercliff Road, Felixstowe, until 4.30pm, and Woodbridge offices until 5.15pm.

N What steps are you taking to reduce your CO2 emissions? Are the authorities doing enough? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk