Will Canterbury cut carbon?

2.31.42pm GMT Sat 28th Nov 2009

Canterbury City Council has put off any decision to cut its carbon footprint until next year. At the council meeting last Thursday a motion was put by Lib Dem Cllr Nick Eden-Green to join hundreds of other organisations who have signed up to a 10:10 commitment. This is a national campaign to cut CO2 emissions by 10% in 2010.

Cllr Eden-Green says: 'Over 80 local authorities in England have already signed up

and I had hoped that Canterbury would join them. This would be an opportunity for Canterbury to show some leadership on the issue of climate change and to do a its bit at a time when world leaders are about to meet in Copenhagen.

I am not suggesting that the council can save the world by making small cuts in its carbon footprint. But if we can show others locally then we will all learn to address the climate change problem which all political parties acknowledge. Last week the Conservative shadow chancellor committed to reducing Whitehall's CO2 emissions if he gets power. I'm amazed that our local Conservatives can't follow his lead when they actually do have power.

With rising energy costs, surely it would be better for the council to save money on its

fuel bills than to close museums and public lavatories. This makes good business sense of environmental necessity. I am very sad the present administration on the council have not taken the opportunity to act now when so many other councils - Tory, Labour and Lib Dem - have already signed up.

This needs leadership and commitment and action. The motion will come back to the Council in January. I look forward to a more positive start to the new year by helping to address a world problem through local action. It has to be a better way forward than trying to make a profit from selling recycling sacks.