New targets on climate change as city declares war

Feb 27 2010 by Amy Hunt, The Journal

COUNCIL leaders are preparing to turn their words on the environment into actions with the launch of a climate change declaration.

Newcastle City Council chiefs plan to slash waste by 15%, increase recycling to 55% and cut car travel by 4% by 2020.

And they hope to have every suitable home in the city fitted with cavity wall and loft insulation by 2015.

All these targets are part of the Newcastle Climate Change Declaration which will be considered by councillors at a meeting next week.

Overall the aim is to reduce the city’s level of harmful carbon emissions by 34% of 1990 levels by 2020.

The ruling Liberal Democrat’s executive member for the environment, Coun Wendy Taylor, who will propose the statement to councillors, said the declaration set the city realistic but challenging targets which will benefit the environment and residents.

But her Labour counterpart, Coun Henri Murison, has accused the council of not going far enough with its green pledge.

The declaration sets out a series of targets and aims, including promoting jobs in green sectors such as renewable energy, supporting businesses to cut their environmental impact and pushing the use of electric cars in the city.

The council will work with partners such as the universities, Newcastle Airport, green support services firm eaga and Warm Zone.