Britain's biggest cities join forces to cut greenhouse gas emissions
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Britain's biggest cities have joined forces to cut their
greenhouse gas emissions, it was announced today.
The Core Cities Group of Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool,
Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield have signed up to
the programme run by a charity set up by former US President Bill
Clinton.
The Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI) will see the councils work
together and with the Greater London Authority to cut greenhouse
gas emissions over the next two years, starting with improving
energy efficiency of their buildings.
The scheme was announced at the Core Cities Summit in Liverpool by
Cllr John Shipley, leader of Newcastle City Council.
He said: "This gives us the chance to demonstrate our commitment to
addressing climate change, show leadership, and show that we are
acting together to reduce carbon emissions across all our cities on
a big scale."
Ira Magaziner, chairman of the Clinton Climate Initiative, said:
"We will provide the cities with technical support and assistance,
building on our experience working with other cities around the
world that are committed to reducing greenhouse gas
emissions."
London has already set up the Building Energy Efficiency Programme
(BEEP), in partnership with the Clinton Climate Initiative.
The capital has 42 buildings currently being retrofitted under the
first stage of the programme and has committed another 58 buildings
to follow.
London Mayor Boris Johnson said: "London is leading the world in
having developed a simple way for public buildings to go green,
helping to shave money off energy bills which is especially
pertinent in lean financial times.
"We are set to save GBP1million off annual public fuel bills as a
result."
The Core Cities group said urban areas alone are responsible for
about one third of all carbon emissions in England.
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