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North East first to commit to reducing carbon emissions

All 12 local authorities in North East England have committed to reduce carbon emission by 20% by 2020 by signing up to the European Union’s Covenant of Mayors.

The move means that the North East of England is the first region in the UK and Europe to sign up to the initiative, which aims to tackle climate change and reduce carbon emissions.

The Covenant of Mayors is a European Commission-led project which unites towns and cities across the continent with a common environmental purpose. It aims to allow local authorities to work together, sharing ideas and strategies to create energy-efficient and low-carbon cities.

North East Local Government’s commitment to reduce CO2 emissions was officially recognised during the first Covenant of Mayors Ceremony on 10 February 2009 in Brussels, as part of EU Sustainable Energy Week.

Minister of State for Europe, Caroline Flint MP said: “I’m delighted that mayors from cities across the UK have today embraced these commitments. Their efforts will not only improve the lives of local citizens by ensuring a better environment in which to live, but will also help their local businesses to benefit from Europe’s drive to become the world’s first low carbon economy.

I looking forward to personally attending a signing of the Covenant of Mayors in Gateshead on Thursday and congratulate the North East for being the first region in Europe to have all of its local authorities sign up to the plan.“

Rt Hon Nick Brown MP said: “This is an important commitment by individual city Governments across the European Union. The City Authorities are responding to the views of their citizens and I am really proud that all 12 North East authorities have committed themselves. This makes us the first region of the European Union to have put itself firmly behind the commitment to reduce CO2 emissions.”

The mayors of more than 300 European cities are making a commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions beyond the EU target of 20% by 2020. For more information go to www.managenergy.net/com.html.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .