UK Government Takes Up on 10:10 Climate Change Challenge

The new British Prime Minister David Cameron says he wants his to be the greenest government ever, committed to a 10% reduction in carbon emissions across central Government in the next twelve months. This cut amounts to 600,000 tonnes of CO2 – equivalent to taking more than 200,000 cars off the road – and about 1% of total UK emissions, as much as the city of Liverpool. Reports from The Guardian and Edie: The new Conservative-Lib Dem coalition has pledged to cut central government emissions by 10% in the next 12 months – equivalent to taking more than 200,000 cars off the road. The commitment is the most high-profile success to date for the 10:10 climate change campaign, which launched in September last year. Emissions from central government are about 1% of total UK emissions – as much as the city of Liverpool. A 10% cut is amounts to 600,000 tonnes of CO2. “This is the first announcement the coalition has made, and the inclusion of their 10:10 commitment bodes well for the importance they’ll place on carbon reduction this term,” said Eugenie Harvey, campaign director of 10:10. “We’re glad to see they’re walking the walk.” The campaign, which is supported by the Guardian, calls on individuals, businesses and other organisations to make similar 10% cuts and has signed up over 65,000 people, 2,610 businesses and 3,100 organisations and educational institutions. The movement includes Royal Mail, Lovebox music festival, Tottenham Hotspur football club and the Tate Modern as well as celebrities such as Delia Smith, Colin Firth and Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox. Within days of the launch of the campaign, the members of all three front bench teams signed up on an individual basis. So far 158 local authorities have signed up. When they made the commitment, 50 councils were Conservative held, 32 Labour, 40 Lib Dem and 36 with no overall control (the balance of some of these councils will have changed in last week’s elections). In October, the Liberal Democrats brought legislation before parliament to sign up government and public sector bodies to 10:10. The Conservatives supported the measure but it was defeated by the Labour government. The 10:10 movement has also spawned sister groups in France, Ghana, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal and Germany. Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government departments to cut emissions by 10% in 12 months New energy and climate change secretary, Chris Huhne, has announced plans to cut government emissions by 10%. Speaking to staff at the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) this morning, with prime minister David Cameron, he announced plans for department headquarters to publish online in real time their energy use. A government steering group chaired by Mr Huhne will also be set up, with representatives from key departments and the private sector. Mr Cameron said: “I don’t want to hear warm words about the environment, I want to see real action. “I want this to be the greenest government ever, taking our lead from 10:10, I commit us to a 10% reduction in carbon emissions across central Government in the next twelve months. “But I have also made sure all Cabinet ministers are involved, developing plans to show how they will meet their share. “And the public will be involved too – because we’re going to publish the energy use of government headquarters in real-time, so people can hold us to account for our performance. If we do this, we’ll cut the Government’s energy bills by hundreds of millions of pounds.” Mr Huhne added: “A lot of progress has been made, but we must now go further, faster and turn targets into real change. “This is a coalition to provide strong and stable government for this country, the benefits of the low carbon economy are agreed between both parties, this is a priority agenda common to both manifestos.” Source: www.edie.net