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Denham: Councils key to cutting carbon emissions
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Councils could "lead the way" in helping Britain meet its
climate change commitments to drive down carbon emissions, Local
Government Secretary John Denham will say today.
Mr Denham will call on councils to scale up their green ambitions,
saying clear leadership and vision could lead to 40% cuts in
emissions within local authorities and unlock £1 billion in
extra income.
With budgets totalling £42 billion a year and a combined
fleet of 50,000 vehicles, councils' decisions could help to "shape
the national market" and give business greater confidence in
investing in innovative green technology, he will say.
In a speech to a climate change conference in London, Mr Denham
will say he wants to "radically enhance" councils' role in meeting
Britain's 2050 target of an 80% cut in greenhouse gases by giving
them greater autonomy and powers to drive low-carbon living.
And he recalled the example of 19th-century metropolitan grandees
like Joseph Chamberlain in Birmingham, who transformed their cities
with visionary investment in utilities and transport.
"We need the same scale of ambition, drive and initiative again
today if we are to effectively respond to climate change," Mr
Denham will say.
"The challenge of tackling climate change presents local
authorities with an opportunity to take centre stage and lead the
way in not only finding solutions for their own local area and
delivering for their local residents but in helping the nation meet
its commitments to driving down carbon emissions."
