Beckett: Local government must act on climate change

Monday, 29 November 2004 12:00 AM

Local councils must work with the Government if climate change is to be tackled in the UK, according to the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).

Giving the keynote speech at an East Midlands conference on climate change this evening, Margaret Beckett said that climate change had already begun to affect the UK.

Without action, she warned there could be significant rises in sea levels along the east coast of England, leading to coastal erosion. Coupled with a likely increase in severe weather, and a potential three degrees increase in temperature, the area would face increased demand for crop irrigations as well as the loss of coastal habitats.

The Government aims to reduce CO2 emissions, compared to 1990, by 20 per cent by 2010, and Ms Beckett told local government they had a major part to play if the targets were to be reached.

She said: "Councils are central to our efforts to tackle climate change. Everything from transport, house building to the energy efficiency of public buildings is affected by - and affects - the changing climate.

"Climate change may be a global problem, but councils are part of the solution. They must work together with their communities to make a difference - not only to prepare for climate change but also to reduce the emissions that cause it".

As a practical step, she called on local councils to sign up to the Nottingham Declaration on Climate Change, which requires councils to openly commit to reducing emissions, encourage emission reduction in their communities, support renewable energy generation and prepare a local plan addressing the causes and effects of climate change.

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