The first carbon emissions map of Britain is released today to show which parts of the country are responsible for pumping out the most pollution.

The map and a table listing the emissions of more than 30 towns and cities were put together by the Carbon Trust to encourage homes and businesses to cut their carbon consumption.

Emissions from businesses were singled out by the trust, which believes that the sector could do more to reduce the carbon dioxide it puts into the atmosphere.

Across the country businesses are responsible for 40 per cent of carbon-dioxide emissions, but the data shows considerable variations between towns and cities.

In Brighton and Southend, Essex, the business sector is responsible for 33 per cent of emissions, whereas in Leicester, Norwich and Sheffield that figure is 55 per cent.

In terms of simple quantity the highest emitter was – to no one’s surprise – London, which produces 50,754,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, compared with the 696,000 tonnes from Aberystwyth, the smallest producer out of the 33 towns and cities listed.

The Carbon Trust hopes that the map will be used by business leaders and local authorities to reduce carbon footprints locally. Tom Delay, its chief executive, said: “Business has a critical role to play in tackling climate change as it is responsible for approximately 40 per cent of CO2 emissions in the UK, and poor energy-efficiency costs business an estimated £2 billion annually. Implementing straightforward energy-saving measures in the workplace could reduce energy bills by up to 20 per cent, enhance their reputation and drastically cut their carbon footprint.”

The map was compiled using sources including the population census 2001, Ordnance Survey, the Office of National Statistics Interdepartmental Business Register, the Environment Agency’s pollution inventory and traffic information held by the Department for Transport.

Hugh Jones, project director at the trust, said that the map was based on scientific calculation, and that it showed emissions at point of use rather than the power stations where electricity was produced. “We aren’t trying to create a league table or competition to be the lowest emitter. We are trying to bring a bit of light to this rather dry area of science,” he said. “People can look at the map and start to understand where carbon emissions are and hopefully be spurred to take action to reduce them.”

He was confident, however, that many business leaders were already convinced that manmade climate change was under way and threatening the environment, and that they were anxious to help to combat global warming.

“Business has really started to move in the last year,” he said. “Many businesses are doing very many good things about carbon – but like it or not it’s still 40 per cent of the problem. If business is doing a lot it’s really going to help. There are still lots and lots of opportunities to help to reduce the scale of this problem.”

Margaret Beckett, the Foreign Secretary, will mark the United Nations World Environment Day tomorrow by urging businesses to join attempts to combat climate change and ensure that Britain has a low carbon economy. At the UK Trade and Investment (UKTI) conference, which showcases Britain’s environmental technologies, she will outline the threats of ignoring climate change and the business opportunities it offers.

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