Hackney becomes first council in London to join carbon trading pilot » Environment » 24dash.com

Hackney continues to lead the way in environmental sustainability by being the first council in London to take part in a national carbon trading pilot scheme.

The council is set to buy and sell permits in a virtual marketplace, ahead of 2010 when the government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment comes into effect.

The scheme is called Carbon Trading Councils, and works by issuing participants with a virtual carbon budget, based on expected levels of annual emissions, with agreed reduction targets.

Councils can then trade carbon at a price agreed by supply and demand, to stay in budget and meet reduction targets, although no real money changes hands.

It's all part of Hackney's commitment to reducing carbon emissions, which has seen innovative measures such as being one of the first councils to introduce compulsory recycling; engine size-based parking permits; and using the greenest refuse collection fleet in the country.

Hackney is currently the only local authority in London to be participating in Carbon Trading Councils, along with more than 20 others across the country.

The council is also participating in the Carbon Trust’s Local Authorities Carbon Management Programme, which provides technical and management support on reducing carbon emissions.

In January this year, Hackney Council signed the Nottingham Declaration, a pledge recognising that climate change is threatening the environment, and to work with residents, businesses and other organisations to cut emissions.

Councillor Jamie Carswell, Deputy Mayor of Hackney, said: “We all need to do our bit for the environment, and joining Carbon Trading Councils further demonstrates the council’s commitment to helping make Hackney a cleaner, greener borough."

Councillor Sophie Linden, Cabinet Adviser for Environmental Sustainability, said: "Reducing how much energy we consume will not only make a difference for the future, but can also help residents and businesses to save money.”

Hackney Council scooped one the of the Mayor of London’s Green Procurement Code Awards in October last year, for measures including using solar-powered pay-and-display machines, fuelling the refuse collection fleet with Biodiesel blend, and buying 100 per cent post consumer waste recycled unbleached paper.