Ten councils have pledged to cut their carbon emissions by one-tenth in the next year, by committing to what is being touted as the UK’s ‘biggest collective effort’ to tackle climate change.
The local authorities – Islington LBC, Richmond LBC, Oxford City Council, Kirklees Council, West Sussex CC, Stroud DC, Eastleigh BC, Slough BC, Greenwich LBC and Hackney LBC – have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, joining pledges made by individuals and organisations nationwide, including the Government’s full Cabinet.
Cllr Alexis Rowell, co-ordinator of 10:10 Councils and chair of Camden’s sustainability task force, said the methodology for local government was slightly different. He explained: ‘We’re asking local authorities to set an NI 185 baseline between now and the end of the year.
‘It’s not quite NI 185, because we’re not asking for schools or outsourced emissions data – we’re only asking for buildings and transport which councils have control over.’
Richard Rugg, head of public sector at the Carbon Trust, applauded the councils for taking part in the scheme. ‘At the Carbon Trust, we have already helped 2,500 public sector bodies to make significant cuts in their emissions, and we are here to support all those who embark on this important journey,’ he said.
Cllr Geoff Acton, Richmond’s cabinet member for environment, said the borough would do all it could to make its buildings, vehicles, streetlights and services more environmentally friendly in order to achieve the 10% cut.
Local government has a crucial role to play in the fight against climate change, both in what it does and what it can encourage other people to do,’ he claimed. Cllr Sophie Linden, Hackney’s cabinet member for sustainability, said that 10% was a ‘bold but achievable target’ for the borough.
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