Ten councils have pledged to cut their carbon emissions by one-tenth in the next year by committing to what is being touted as the UK's ‘biggest collective effort' to tackle climate change. The local authorities – Islington LBC, Richmond-upon-Thames LBC, Oxford City Council, Kirklees Council, West Sussex CC, Stroud DC, Eastleigh BC, Slough Council, Greenwich LBC, and Hackney LBC – have signed up to the 10:10 campaign, joining pledges made by individuals and organisations nationwide, including the Government's full cabinet. Cllr Alexis Rowell, co-ordinator of 10:10 councils and chair of Camden's sustainability task force, explained that the methodology for local government was slightly different. Cllr Rowell said: ‘We're asking councils to set an NI185 baseline between now and the end of the year. It's not quite NI185 because we're not asking for schools or outsourced emissions data – we're only asking for buildings and transport which councils have control over.' Cllr Geoff Acton, Richmond's cabinet member for environment, said: ‘Local government has a crucial role to play in the fight against climate change'.
