A new £6 million fund to help charitable and voluntary organisations support and develop environmental projects throughout England has been announced by Environment Secretary Hilary Benn.

The Greener Living Fund will help voluntary organisations promote positive environmental changes to individuals and communities, helping them reduce their carbon footprints, make greener lifestyle choices and find new ways to rely less on our natural resources.

Announcing the fund and launching Defra's Third Sector Strategy, which sets out how the department will improve the way it works with third sector groups, Hilary Benn said: "Defra is committed to working closely with voluntary and charitable organisations to tackle climate change and help everyone make positive environmental changes in their lifestyle - no matter how big or small. I hope that this fund will make a real difference to individuals, communities and projects across the country and I look forward to seeing the results.

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"I appreciate and admire the significant time and effort that these organisations undertake and believe that Defra's Third Sector Strategy will play an important part in achieving the goal of a healthy natural environment for this and future generations to prosper."

Energy and Climate Change Minister, Joan Ruddock said: "If we want to achieve our goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and developing a low-carbon Britain, then the involvement of the third sector is absolutely vital. With around 40 per cent of emissions caused by individual choices and actions, behaviour change is crucial, and this is where third sector groups such as charities, NGOs, voluntary organisations, social enterprises and faith groups play an important role."

(CD/JM)