European socialists go green at 'carbon-free' congress

(PRAGUE) - Take a tram instead of a taxi and don't change your towel every day -- such are the rules at a two-day "carbon-free" congress of the Party of European Socialists (PES), which started in Prague on Monday.

"The idea is simple: we want our congress to have absolutely no impact on the amount of carbon in the environment," said the organisers, who have made climate change one of the top items on the agenda.

Hundreds of men in ties and women in sharp outfits arrived at the congress venue clutching tram tickets, distributed for free by the organisers, the Czech Social Democrats.

"It's a great idea. I like public transport," said Paz Fernandez Felgueroso, a Spanish delegate.

The PES, which groups national centre-left parties from across the 27-nation European Union, said it was the first party ever to hold a "carbon-free congress".

It said it would also restrict heating at the congress, offer products such as organic cotton shirts and bags, and curb paper consumption by sending e-mails.

Delegates were advised to share taxis if they absolutely had to take them. Among the other tips were: "Ask the hotel not to replace the linen and towels every day. Return your badge and string so they can be re-used".

A young Czech Social Democrat helping to distribute tram tickets said the idea was a success. "No one has said no to the offer," he added.

But he failed to impress a woman who arrived by taxi, ignored all questions and ran past journalists, red-faced -- unnecessarily, as it turned out, when the cab let out another two passengers.

The congress opened on the same day landmark talks on tackling climate change began in Copenhagen, with negotiators from 192 countries aiming toward a deal to ward off global warming's potentially catastrophic effects.