THIS week’s Climate Change Week is a reminder that we all have to save energy to save the planet.

Petrol prices are at record levels and the cost of heating our homes continues to rise.

Oxford City Council has cut its own carbon footprint by a quarter in three years. We are now working with the Mini plant, in Cowley, the universities and others to reduce Oxford’s carbon emissions too. We can all do out bit by turning down the heating, using the car less and shrinking our personal carbon footprints.

Oxford needs to reduce its carbon emissions by 30-40 per cent by 2050 so there is no time to lose.

The accident at the Fukushima power plant in Japan shows the danger of relying on nuclear. But we should welcome renewable energy based on wind, sunshine and water power.

Wind turbines, solar panels and more sustainable living are the way forward. We really can reduce energy costs. Oxford is leading the way in tackling the threat of climate change to our children and grandchildren.

John Tanner, Board Member for a Cleaner, Greener Oxford Oxford city and Oxfordshire county councillor