Lib Dems urge all Councils to follow West Berkshire in drive against climate change

12.01.00am GMT Thu 2nd Nov 2006

This week's Stern Report on the probable economic effects of climate change emphasises the need for all local authorities to follow the cross-party initiative adopted by West Berkshire Council. The Council has resolved to develop a Climate Change Strategy in order to minimise carbon emissions resulting from its own activities, and then to embed the resulting good practice across the West Berkshire Community.

As part of the Liberal Democrat campaign for a green tax switch - taxing pollution not people - Councillor Royce Longton, supported by Councillor Sue Farrant, will present a motion at this Saturday's Conference of the South Central Liberal Democrats. The motion will call on all Councils to follow West Berkshire's lead in developing effective strategies to combat climate change.

Councillor Longton, Shadow Executive Member for the Environment, will say:

"Global warming threatens to make vast areas in Africa and elsewhere uninhabitable unless urgent and effective action is taken to limit emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gasses. People in Britain are currently responsible for an average of 9.3 tonnes of carbon per person per year, compared with a global average of only 2.5 tonnes.

We just can't go on consuming and polluting at this rate. All of us need to try harder to meet the national target of a 60% cut in carbon emissions by 2050 to which all the major political parties have agreed. As individuals, we can help to save the environment, and cut our energy bills, through simple measures like turning down the thermostat, using energy-saving light bulbs and not leaving our televisions on standby.

Local Councils can make a major contribution to the national effort by first getting their own house in order and then leading by example to stimulate action throughout their communities. Similarly, when Britain has made significant cuts to our own national carbon footprint we shall be in a better position to persuade the USA, and developing economies such as China and India, to accept their global responsibilities.

I am glad that all the major political parties now accept the need for tax incentives to help us tackle climate change, and that the Liberal Democrats have demonstrated how taxing carbon emissions can fund reductions in income tax and thus give a financial boost to responsible taxpayers".