Action To Tackle Climate Change

Leicester City Council has signed a commitment pledging action to tackle climate change.

The authority is one of 130 councils across the country putting its name to a nationally recognised declaration to combat global warming.

It will signify a commitment by the city council to take action across the city to tackle climate change, and will build on the city's existing work to address global warming which has been underway since the publication of the City Of Leicester Climate Change Strategy in 2003.

Council leader Roger Blackmore put his name to the declaration in a ceremony at Buswells Lodge School, in Beaumont Leys. He told local press, "The range of steps which a local council can take, often in conjunction with partners, is obviously very wide. For our part, we are committed to looking at sustainable energy options for our massive £250 million secondary schools rebuilding scheme. We have a scheme for construction waste recycling on a major scale which we're working on. At the same time, we'll be working with schools and other partners to instigate more schemes such as that at Buswells Lodge."

The school itself has recently been fitted out with new environmentally-friendly classrooms, which use renewable energy, rainwater harvesting and green construction materials.

In addition, 49 more schools across the city are now following the example of Buswells Lodge with projects to reduce the environmental impact of their schools, as part of the council's Eco Management Audit Scheme (EM AS).

The Leicester Partnership, which includes the city council alongside local health, business and education organisations, is also due to launch a campaign to encourage people and firms to address environmental change.

The campaign, entitled Climate Change - What's Your Plan? - will encourage people and businesses to take simple steps such as improving insulation, saving energy, using renewable energy suppliers and using alternatives to car transport.