Private, public and voluntary sector organisations across Islington have joined forces to cut carbon emissions borough-wide- by setting themselves an ambitious target to reduce their own carbon emissions by 15 per cent by 2010.<br><br>Unveiled today (5 March 2007) at Islington's Climate Change Partnership launch, the target represents a joint carbon- reduction commitment from a wide range of organisations that play an important role locally, from Royal Mail to City University and Islington Council. <br><br>If every organisation meets it's pledge, the borough's overall carbon emissions should reduce by around five per cent by 2010. That's a reduction of 55,000 tonnes of carbon, which is about the same as 6,000 return London to Sydney flights, or the energy needed to power 9,000 homes. Islington Council has committed to this reduction in it's Local Area Agreement with central Government, making it the the first local authority in the country to do so.<br><br>Chris Huhne MP, Shadow Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Secretary, was a guest speaker at the launch alongside Islington Council Leader James Kempton.<br><br>Cllr James Kempton said: ''I don't know any other community which is coming together to sign up to a target. The council may be the biggest polluter but 95 per cent of the emissions in Islington come from other places. That's why it is so important we all work together. We can't be complacent on this issue. I am immensely proud of Islington - it's great that we live in a place we think that what we can do will be a beacon."<br><br>Chris Huhne MP said: ''Congratulations to the local community in Islington on what definitely is a first. Climate change is a global problem that does need to be addressed at global level. But in order to have a standing in the international community, we have to show we practice what we preach - that's why national and local action is so important, and why business involvement is vital. Businesses will define themselves by how they react to this extraordinary change in global circumstances. They can either be a dinosaur that's left behind, or a dynamo that's part of the solution as well as the cause." <br><br>The launch comes hot on the heels of a similarly bold step by Islington Council - who last week announced plans for a £3million Climate Change Fund for capital projects. The fund will help pay for real, effective measures to reduce carbon emissions - either by producing renewable energy or green transport. <br><br>Islington's Climate Change Partnership, which has been set up to help acheive the reduction, started work in November 2006. More than 20 local organisations contributed to a Carbon Baseline Study - which gathered information on the Partnership's collective carbon emissions so they could agree a target for reduction.<br><br>The Partnership's target for carbon reduction was unveiled at the launch, where members of the Partnership pledged to achieve this reduction in their own organisations. <br><br>In return the Partnership will provide on-going help, support and advice to members, so they can reduce their energy costs. It will also keep members informed of the latest developments in technology to help save energy, and help secure further funding to deliver the Partnership's work.<br><br>The launch also included a performance of Waiting for Change by Arc Theatre company. <br><br>ENDS
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009