Hundreds of thousands of people were beginning to receive postcards today showing the devastating effects global warming may already be having on the Bradford district.

The cards are designed to promote World Environment Day and in this special edition, the Telegraph & Argus is playing its part by helping to highlight some of the issues facing the planet and some of the steps being taken locally to battle climate change.

The front of the cards, being sent to 175,000 households, show beauty spots including Ilkley Moor, Five Rise Locks in Bingley, and the boating lake and Cartwright Hall in Lister Park, Bradford, with the message "wish you were here".

But the reverse of the cards feature harsh reminders of the fires which raged across Ilkley Moor last summer and the floods at Stockbridge, Keighley and Haworth.

Tracy Thackray, marketing officer for climate change at Bradford Council, said the cards were to raise awareness of climate change and the everyday steps people can take to help prevent it.

She said: "It is the small steps that people take that have a large impact - everyday actions do have a global impact.

"We are not expecting people to become eco-warriors and change their behaviour over night but it is the little things, such as turning your lights off when you are not in the room, or not leaving appliances on stand-by, which can make a big difference."

The postcards, which are made from recycled paper, were sent out to coincide with World Environment Day today.

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, the Council's executive member for the environment, said: "Everybody's contribution helps which is why we have sent this card to all 175,000 households in the Bradford district.

"People should think globally but act locally to try to do all they can to lessen the chance of floods, fire and other natural disasters caused by climate change."

Shaun O'Hare, environmental enabler for the environmental action group, Bradford Environmental Action Trust (Beat), welcomed the scheme.

He said: "Any step in the right direction is welcome.

"It might be a small part of the issue globally, but if everybody dedicated a little bit of their time it would make a difference.

"There are certainly problems in and around Bradford with flooding and we also have to be aware of landfill issues.

"Hopefully the postcards are going to bring attention to the problems facing Bradford and encourage people to do something.

"It is not going to change overnight, but everything that helps is worthwhile."

The Council has received £200,000 funding from the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) to raise awareness of climate change.

Mrs Thackray said: "It is part of a year-long campaign. The postcard door-drop is, I suspect, the most efficient way of reaching all householders and bringing their attention to World Environment Day.

"We are hoping the postcards will reach every house in the district this week."

The Council has published a free climate change guide with information on what causes climate change and includes a handy tear out and keep page with useful tips and energy saving advice.

The Council has also started an advertising and marketing campaign with the slogan "act now before it snowballs".

To obtain a copy of the free climate change guide visit www.bradford.gov.uk/climatechange or telephone (01274) 433582.

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