Stagecoach have launched Scotland's first carbon neutral bus network on it's Edinburgh to Fife routes, meaning all its services between Fife and Edinburgh crossing the Forth Road Bridge will be carbon neutral until 2013.

The initiative, in partnership Scottish charity Global Trees, will see all of Stagecoach's Fife to Edinburgh bus network become carbon neutral for the next five years, saving 21,500 tones in CO2 emissions.

The initiative will off set the carbon released from all services from Dundee, St Andrews, Leven, Kirkcaldy, Glenrothes and Dunfermline, plus intermediate points, as well as Ferrytoll Park and Ride to Edinburgh, Edinburgh Airport, the Gyle shopping centre, Edinburgh Park, Riccarton, Granton and Leith.

The Perth-based bus operator is to plant more than 140,000 trees covering 60 hectares this year, which will absorb the 4,300 tonnes in annual CO2 emissions generated by the Fife-Edinburgh operation over the next five years, produced by buses that carry more than 2.4 million passengers a year.

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The tree-planting initiative, which will be supported by a major marketing campaign targeted at car users, is part of Stagecoach Group's environmental strategy to help tackle climate change by reducing the carbon footprint of the company and its customers.

Brian Souter, Stagecoach Group Chief Executive, said: This is an extremely exciting initiative, which is setting the standard for greener, smarter bus travel and helping our customers reduce their own carbon footprint.

There is an increasing awareness about the impact of people's behaviour on the environment. We hope this innovative project will promote intelligent car use, encourage more people to get on board public transport and help protect the planet.

The trees are being planted on Buccleuch Woodlands estates in the south of Scotland under a partnership with Global Trees, a Scottish based charity set up to help people reduce their carbon footprint.

Peter Grant, the founder of Global Trees, added: "It is fantastic that an organisation the size and scope of Stagecoach has become involved with Global Trees and has committed to off-setting its Fife to Edinburgh bus network.

"This is great news for the charity and for Scotland. We hope this move will encourage other businesses across Scotland and the UK to get involved and take a more pro-active stance on the issue of global warming. We're looking forward to working with Brian Souter and his team to help raise awareness of how easy it can be to make a difference."

(GK/JM)