NORTH Yorkshire has taken two more steps in the continuing fight against global warming and climate change.

The county council has appointed Emma Casson as the UK's first schools' carbon reduction officer.

She will help schools improve their energy efficiency, cut energy consumption and reduce their carbon emissions.

She also plans to work with students to help them set up "Eco Schools" groups. They will act as energy monitors, making sure that lights and computers are switched off and carrying out a range of environmental conservation activities.

Council leader John Weighell and and chief executive John Marsden have also put their signatures to the Nottingham Declaration of Climate Change.

The declaration is a pledge for councils across the UK to work with Government departments, businesses and communities to tackle the causes and effects of a changing climate.

It is supported by the Government and by the UK Climate Impacts Programme, at the Oxford University Centre for the Environment.

Studies show that switching off computers and monitors at the end of the day and turning off unwanted lights can reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions by up to 20 per cent.

Councillor Weighell said: "We've just had one of the mildest winters on record and some pretty unusual weather to cap. This should be a wake-up call to us all that climate change is happening - and it's happening on our own doorstep.

"We all have a part to play in curbing this worrying trend and councils must do their bit by championing local solutions to a global problem."

He added: "By appointing a schools carbon reduction officer, we hope to demonstrate that saving energy can also save serious money and present a fun challenge for young and old alike."

Tips for saving energy

* Switch off lights when leaving rooms

* Turn down heating thermostats rather than open windows. Each one degree lower is equivalent to an eight to ten per cent energy saving.

* Turn off computers and monitors at the switch when not in use. In Europe it has been estimated that standby lights use the electricity output of two nuclear power stations.

* Take regular meter readings to see what impact each action has had. It can be an eye-opener.