A plan to get people to reduce their carbon emissions by 10 per cent in 2010 was launched in Dublin Zoo today.
Campaign manager John Hesnan said 10:10 was an action programme for individuals and businesses.
To generate publicity, the campaign will use a road show featuring two 240cm (8ft) high robotic polar bears in a nationwide tour.
People can reduce their personal emissions by using responsible modes of transport, reducing energy consumption at home and even eating locally sourced food, he said.
For businesses, the campaign is targeting four main areas for emissions reduction; electricity, gas, road transport and air travel.
Mr Hesnan said 11 NGOs were involved and that the campaign had received funding from the Department for Environment, Dublin Zoo and the ESB, among others.
Charles Stanley-Smith of An Taisce said the recent Copenhagen talks had been about the future and went over most people’s heads. The campaign would allow ordinary people and businesses to get involved.
The frequency of extreme weather conditions in recent years had shifted concern from the environmentalists to mainstream society.
However, Mr Stanley-Smith said people needed to distinguish between weather, such as the recent cold snap, and changes in climate which were measured over of period of 30 years.
He said the regional and global climate was becoming more hostile and that the campaign would allow people to make a step towards building a sustainable future.