A report published this week by the International Energy Agency (IEA) – World Energy Outlook 2011 – made it clear that urgent action is needed now to address what appears to be a forgone conclusion,  that world temperatures are set to rise by 2C (4F) if we don’t stop our reliance on fossil fuels and begin to reduce the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. This is currently 390 parts per million (ppm), with 450ppm being the point of no return.  As domestic energy consumption accounts for 33% of carbon emissions it seems that switching to a green energy tariff is now the single most important contribution you can make!

Those of us not lucky enough to have a suitable south facing roof for solar pv – and even this is being made less cost effective with the Department for Climate Change (DECC) recently announcing the amount paid for electricity generated by home owners is to be reduced – a green energy tariff is the easiest way for people to ditch fossil fuels and make a difference.

With world reliance on oil, coal and gas showing no signs of decreasing any time soon and Government’s making all the right noises and simply going through the motions, it looks like it’s up to the consumer to take up the challenge and address the problem.

The more people who choose a green energy tariff, the more the ‘Big 6’ energy suppliers will have to sit up and take notice and actually meet the Government’s UK’s target for 15% of energy supplied coming from renewable sources by 2020.  At the moment only three companies meet the current Government UK target of 10% renewable energy by 2010.

There are plenty of people ‘doing their bit’ using energy saving light bulbs, not leaving stuff on standby and switching off lights – but in reality although in the grand scheme of things every action counts – nothing counts more than getting hooked-up to renewable energy to reduce your carbon emissions.

So what’s stopping you?  At the end of the day you could get a tariff that price matches your current supplier’s standard tariff (or could even cost you less), and with all the ‘Big 6’ suppliers hiking their prices again just in time for Winter why not check out a comparison of the suppliers green energy tariffs and see what’s out there.

Make reducing your carbon emissions a New Year’s resolution you can keep!