Islington Council is set to create a £3million Climate Change Fund -- the first of its kind from any London borough -- to fund capital projects that will reduce CO2 emissions in the borough. <br><br>Islington already has a strong track record in taking practical action to tackle climate change, with tough planning policies that force developers to cut the environmental impact of new buildings, working alongside its own energy efficiency drive. This includes using renewable technologies like wind turbines to minimise the council's own carbon footprint.<br> <br>Now the North London council is taking another bold step - by proposing to invest £3million into concrete, additional, visible measures - such as solar panels, wind turbines, biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps - to reduce carbon emissions in Islington. <br><br>If the plans are approved by councillors tommorrow (27 February), residents, organisations and council teams will all be able to benefit from funding for capital projects which will achieve significant reductions in carbon emissions, either through generating renewable energy, or green transport. <br><br>Details of the proposal are set out in a report, published on www.islington.gov.uk today and due for discussion at a meeting of the Full Council tomorrow evening. <br><br>Leader of Islington Council, Cllr James Kempton, said: "Politicians everywhere are talking tough about tackling climate change. In Islington, we're putting our money where our mouth is, helping people to take real action which will make a difference globally as well as locally. We hope by taking this bold step to persuade other local authorities to follow Islington's lead and take firm action to reduce their borough's carbon emissions.<br><br>Cllr Lucy Watt, Executive Member for Environment, Islington Council: "Residents will benefit directly from this new Climate Change Fund. Climate change is already having an impact in our borough. Temperatures in the South East of England are set to rise by approximately 4.5°C by 2080 -- in dense urban areas like Islington, this could be as much as 8°C -- before some of our residents retire from their working life. Our local residents have told us climate change is as high up the agenda for them as it is for us - we've listened and we're taking action to help tackle it."<br><br>Cllr Andrew Cornwell, Executive Member for Finance, Islington Council said: "As well as reducing the borough's carbon footprint, the projects we fund will themselves generate savings to the council, and to the other organisations. At least 10 per cent of these savings will be reinvested back into it, which will allow it to continue to contribute to reducing emissions on an ongoing basis.<br><br>"In addition to reducing carbon emissions, these measures will also have direct benefit to Islington residents, reducing fuel poverty, giving them a greater security in energy supply, and the health benefits that come with greener methods of travel." <br><br>Projects that the council anticipates funding through the Climate Change Fund include wind turbines, ground source heat pumps, solar thermal hot water panels, pollution-absorbing materials in local streets and many more.<br><br>Cllr James Kempton said: "We're already installing wind turbines on our own council land, and I look forward to seeing lots more renewable energy across the borough, from solar panels to wind turbines, to biomass boilers and ground source heat pumps." <br><br>ENDS
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009