Although a cold winter and some confusion about the science has increased scepticism about global warming in Britain, the scientific consensus relating to the need to limit carbon emissions to avoid the possibility of catastrophic climate change remains intact. Due to the failure of governments to deliver a coherent approach at Copenhagen, the need for action at all levels to address the issue persists. Firms and individuals are obliged to consider their contribution to global warming.

Research shows that car use is still one of the major ways in which British citizens contribute to the collective carbon footprint. The government recommends that individuals should try to reduce the amount of travelling they do in cars. Car manufacturers are intent on supplying vehicles which have less of an environmental impact than their predecessors. Progress may be very gradual and the email scandal at the University of East Anglia may not have helped, but the general trend towards ‘thinking green’ is having some effect.

However, traditional forms of car-based commuting can lead to large quantities of carbon being emitted into the atmosphere. Congestion, exacerbated by the ‘school run’, can increase the level of pollution. Public transport alternatives have not always been given the resources that could have persuaded more people to use them.

One way by which the battle to limit global warming can be waged is to use virtual offices. A virtual office in the UK can benefit inhabitants of villages on the other side of the world. Virtual offices are not only cost-effective business solutions, but they can also be responsible in ecological terms.