Leeds City Council backs Lib Dems call for tough measures across Leeds to tackle Climate Change (Leeds Liberal Democrats)

Leeds Liberal Democrats <info@leedslibdems.org.uk>

Leeds City Council backs Lib Dems call for tough measures across Leeds to tackle Climate Change

January 20, 2010 12:00 AM

Cllr James Monaghan, Liberal Democrat portfolio holder for Environmental Services at the Council; has welcomed the backing he received at this evening's meeting of Leeds City Council. The Council supported his amendment to a motion on Climate Change backing the Friends of the Earth 'Get Serious About CO2' campaign The amendment also reinforced the Council's targets of a 40% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020, and an 80% reduction by 2050.

Cllr Monaghan (Lib Dem, Headingley) said ; "Leeds City Council is serious about tackling climate change, but we also need to ensure that our partners and the rest of the City do their bit too. The motion that we have succeeded in piloting through the council this evening sets out a range of positive measures that can be taken across the city. Just as importantly, calls on the Government 'to assist local authorities with additional funds and legal powers to make radical changes to act on climate change'.

"Without those additional powers local authorities will not be able to tackle climate change effectively, without those additional funds we will not be able to help the rest of the city to achieve the targets we believe are vital.

"Our proposals were backed by 68 votes to 12, with 5 abstentions. Our plans were the only ones which backed the Friends of the Earth campaign and I'd like to pay tribute to their effective lobbying over the last few weeks."