Sir – May I take the opportunity to use your columns to develop the message of John Tanner (Letters, June 16) in which he describes the work of the city council and others to cut carbon.

I very much welcome the work of all the organisations he mentions. However, it conceals the lack of leadership coming from these organisations.

Not only would they benefit by sharing their laudable activities a little more widely, but we would all benefit.

Government has a role in setting targets for all of us and companies and councils have an important part to play. The most difficult element is in persuading individual householders that they ought to be playing their part too. Each household needs to reduce their emissions from about 14 tonnes currently to just two tonnes by 2050.

Leadership from our representatives and community leaders would enormously help householders and those of us who are trying to reduce emissions at this level.

To take two examples, householders who have suitable roofs and some savings should seriously consider installing photovoltaic panels to generate their own electricity. And they should do it before next April when rates will reduce.

Or, if you don’t have your own roof or sufficient savings, then we would urge you to join others in North Oxford in investing in Oxford North Community Renewables which is raising the £145,000 needed to put a solar array on the roofs of the Cherwell school.

Returns are divided between the investors, the school and future low-carbon projects. Further information is available at oncore.org.uk and the opportunity closes on July 31.

Sam Clarke, Chairman, Low Carbon Oxford North, Oxford