'I don't think it will achieve anything'

Londoners today were sceptical about whether the new scheme that allows them to offset their commute to and from work would make any difference.

While some thought the initiative would fail to reduce carbon emissions, others believed it was up to businesses to make a bigger effort to tackle the problem.

Alexandra Cybulska, 27, from East Dulwich, who works for a tour operator, said: "I don't think it will achieve anything because you have to prevent people generating CO2 in the first place.

"But if it makes people more aware of the issues that is good - they might hear about it and decide to do something."

Council employee Jo Smith, 27, from Hillingdon, said: "It's a good idea in principle but we should be looking more at businesses rather than individuals.

"You can start to get people to turn off the lights and recycle more and that's all well and good but in fact 60 per cent of landfill is generated by businesses.

"I don't think it is going to reach the mass population. We need some other incentive to get people to do these things. You need to get businesses to act."

Caroline Irwin, 25, from Hammersmith, who works in marketing, said: "I think it's quite a good idea but I don't know how much difference it would actually make. You could be one of very few people who were actually doing it and then it would have no impact at all."

Student Ricardo Verra, 22, who lives in Hammersmith, said: "I wouldn't do it. I don't think it would catch on. Prevention is better than making people offset the carbon dioxide they produce.

"I think people pay more attention when you try to get them to change their habits."

Designer Catherine Soares, 36, from Chelsea, said: "It would be difficult persuading people to do it because it involves them parting with money.

"Environmental awareness is improving, particularly in the last year or so - you read about it more in newspapers. But you need to target people's lifestyles and businesses at the same time."