Trend watch: Craggers

LONDON, England (CNN) -- Forget the low carb diet, try the low carbon one.

With winter approaching that means putting on an extra jumper rather than use central heating, riding a bike or walking instead of taking the car and making sure lights and electrical equipment are turned off if they are not being used.

In Britain where climate change is the modern-day bogeyman, individuals are not just waiting for corporations to cut their carbon emissions -- they are taking matters into their own hands.

Small groups are forming where members can compare carbon saving initiatives and swap green tips. If one member is emitting too many emissions the group steps in to impose a fine or penalty on the individual. Leading the charge are a collection of groups called Craggers (Carbon Rationing Action Group) based in North London.

They start with a quota of emissions per person and members who emit progressively less each year can earn money from those who emit more and must pay a penalty into the system. Emissions are calculated from natural gas and electricity bills and travel.

Craggers then make personal sacrifices such as not driving or turning off the heating. Buying carbon off-sets is not recognized as a "sacrifice." One member of a local carbon rationing group was fined $191.39 after a flight to Mauritius for a vacation pushed her over her 6 month carbon limit.

Air travel is one of the easiest ways to go over your emissions target and is a contentious issue in many groups. Godfather of the movement, British writer George Monbiot, has said the way to reduce emissions is through major cuts to energy use and personal consumption.

Rationing has been discussed as a solution by people such as British foreign secretary David Milliband and Friends of the Earth (UK) head, Tony Juniper. One model suggested is along World War II food rationing lines, where each household is given a quota of emissions and if it is used early there is no recourse to more energy.

However, many environmentalists say such compulsion will not work, particularly in developing countries such as India and China where regulation of energy use would be difficult.

For now, the Cragger movement is in its infancy with 20 Crag groups and 160 people participating in the UK, according to the International Herald Tribune. Crags have also started in Maryland and Georgia in the U.S. E-mail to a friend