Climate Change
Carbon crackdown
Hackney is leading the way in environmental sustainability by being the first London council to take part in a national carbon trading pilot scheme.
It works by issuing participants with a virtual carbon budget, based on expected annual levels of emissions and agreed reduction targets.
Councils can then trade carbon at a price set by supply and demand, in order to stay in budget and meet those targets, although no real money changes hands. Instead, authorities buy and sell permits in a virtual marketplace.
The scheme – called Carbon Trading Councils – has been introduced ahead of 2010 when the Government’s Carbon Reduction Commitment comes into effect.
It’s all part of Hackney’s commitment to reducing carbon emissions, which has seen the introduction of innovative measures including compulsory recycling; engine size-based parking permits; and the greenest refuse collection fleet in the country.
Cllr Sophie Linden, Cabinet Adviser for Environmental Sustainability, said:
“Reducing how much energy we consume will not only make a difference for the future, but can also help residents and businesses to save money.”
Hackney is also participating in the Carbon Trust’s Local Authorities Carbon Management Programme, which provides technical and management support on reducing carbon emissions.
This January, Hackney signed the Nottingham Declaration, a pledge to work with residents, businesses and other organisations to cut emissions.
The Council scooped a prestigious Mayor of London’s Green Procurement Code Awards last October, for measures including using solarpowered pay-and-display machines, fuelling the refuse collection fleet with Biodiesel blend, and buying 100 per cent recycled, unbleached paper.
Follow the link to read the Local Government Association's report on climate change.
Page updated: 3 Jul 2008