David Ruffley MP, the Shadow Minister for Welfare Reform, has today offset all the CO2 emissions he has caused from driving in the last 12 months.

David's move has been supported by his Constituency Association who have agreed to offset all business miles accrued by its employees.

By making a payment to www.climatecare.org David has ensured that all emissions his driving has been responsible for have been offset.

Climate Care offset carbon emissions by funding projects around the world. These can be in:

• Renewable energy- this replaces non-renewable fuel such as coal

• Energy efficiency- this reduces the amount of fuel needed

• Forest restoration- this absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere as the trees grow

As well as taking steps to reduce individuals' 'carbon footprints' they can offset what remains, helping to promote low-carbon technologies where they make the most impact.

David will continue to offset all CO2 emissions from his driving on an annual basis.

David said:

'This is a fantastic step towards making the work I do in Suffolk and the House of Commons even cleaner and greener.

'I hope that by offsetting the CO2 emissions caused by my driving I will encourage other individuals and MPs at Westminster to do the same.

'My Constituency Association has also agreed that all business miles accrued by its staff will be offset in the same way.

'Climate Care do some excellent work offsetting CO2 emissions through funding projects in areas such as renewable energy and reforestation.

'They have been praised in the work they do by Jonathon Porritt, the former Director of Friends of the Earth, and Professor Diana Liverman, Director of Oxford University's Environmental Change Institute.

'While offsetting my emissions is no substitute for not creating them in the first place I will continue to try to make my representing the people of Bury St Edmunds, Stowmarket and Needham Market make as little contribution to climate change as possible.'

David Wellington, Director Climate Care, said:

'In our fight to tackle climate change, we need our politicians to act as role models by reducing their emissions as much as possible and offsetting those that remain. It's great to see David Ruffley showing leadership on this most critical of issues.'