Whilst countries across
the world failed to reach agreement on targets
to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at the
Copenhagen Climate Change summit, the newly
formed Reading Climate Change Partnership
is committed to reducing emissions in the
town.
Whilst countries across
the world failed to reach agreement on targets
to reduce carbon dioxide emissions at the
Copenhagen Climate Change summit, the newly
formed Reading Climate Change Partnership
is committed to reducing emissions in the
town.
The Partnership is chaired by the Environment
Agency and includes representatives from
the community, public sector bodies, Reading
Borough Council, University of Reading and
local businesses.
The group, which recently met for the first
time, aims to encourage all sectors in Reading
including businesses, the local authority,
homes and industry to reduce emissions from
their premises and their activities. It
also aims to raise the public’s awareness
about climate change and the risks associated
with a global rise in temperature, including
the risk of flooding.
Top of the agenda is
to encourage businesses, public sectors
and the community to commit to a 10% reduction
in emissions by 2010 and to sign up to the
national campaign www.1010uk.org. Reading
businesses are also being asked to show
that they have signed up to 10:10 by visiting
Reading’s local green business network website
www.rgbn.org.uk
Sally Coble from the
Environment Agency, who chairs the group,
said: “Reducing carbon emissions is vital
if we are to reduce the impacts of climate
change. Reaching this 10 per cent target
will require a fundamental shift in the
way businesses and people operate. By signing
up to the 10:10 campaign organisations can
demonstrate their commitment to environmental
improvement. Everyone at the Environment
Agency has already taken big steps in reducing
our carbon footprint, but we’re committed
to making further improvements in the year
ahead as well as encouraging others to join
in.”
The group will meet
in January to create an action plan of projects
that will deliver reductions in carbon emissions
across Reading.
