EFFORTS to clean up Bournemouth’s environment have led to half a million kilograms (500 tons) of damaging carbon dioxide being removed from the atmosphere.

Campaigners leading the effort say the amount of CO2 saved would have filled the town’s defunct sightseeing balloon 50 times over.

The effort was led by the Count On Me campaign, which encourages people to choose low-carbon modes of travel and change their buying habits.

Sustainability communicator Angela Fendley said: “The Count On Me campaign, launched in June 2016, has had a very productive year. The people of Bournemouth have keenly participated in cutting carbon emissions to protect the future of our town, and the planet.

“The good news is that a damaging 516,360 kgs of CO2 has been saved from the atmosphere, an amount that would have filled Bournemouth Balloon 50 times over.”

Count On Me has had a team of volunteers out and about encouraging people to think about their carbon footprint.

They have discussed locally sourced purchases, meat-free days, local food growing and use of public transport, all of which can be ways to combat the impact of climate change.

Each of these activities and choices has a numerical value attached to it, representing the amount of CO2 that could be saved over a year.

Count On Me says the changes in habit not only help combat climate change but also help address social inequality, environmental degradation and unsustainable consumption.

Angela Fendley designed the campaign and has run it with the support of Transition Bournemouth and the BH Green Group, with funding from Green Goals.

Bournemouth Borough Council has backed the campaign and supports the need for improved “climate literacy”.

Events covered by the Count On Me team over the year began with Winton Carnival in 2016 and have included Christmas at Bournemouth Square, Students Union Green Week at Bournemouth University and a user-friendly presentation to the Wessex Energy and Environmental Management Group. The group also took part in in Volunteering Week at the Bournemouth and Poole College and visited the recent Slades Farm Family Fesitval.

Details of ways to reduce emissions can be found at countonme.today and via the Count On Me Facebook and Twitter accounts.