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MEDIA RELEASE |
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WIRRAL LET DOWN BY ITS MPs ON 10:10 CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGE Last month, Liberal Democrat Councillor Gill Gardiner , Cabinet member for Environment, signed up the Council to the national 10:10 Campaign to seek to reduce its carbon emissions by 10% in 2010; Wirral was first local authority in Merseyside to sign up to the campaign. On Wednesday 21 st October, Liberal Democrat MPs tabled an Opposition Day Debate in the House of Commons asking Parliament to sign up to 10:10 Campaign which would commit the Government and public sector to seek to achieve a 10% reduction in carbon emissions by the end of 2010. The motion was defeated by a margin of 71; 297 votes to 226. All 4 Wirral Labour MPs voted against. Councillor Gardiner said, “The next few weeks and months are of vital importance in our efforts to tackle climate change. In December, world leaders will meet in Copenhagen to seek a global agreement to address the worsening climate crisis. Now is the time for action on climate change, not just more warm words. On Wednesday, the UK Government and parliament had a chance to take a leadership role and send a powerful signal around the globe of its commitment to address the climate crisis. By voting down this motion to bring its own house in order by committing Parliament to seek to achieve a 10% reduction in carbon emissions, the Government has once again failed to take the leadership and the serious action needed to prevent the climate crisis.” Councillor Gill Gardiner added, “Locally, Wirral Council has already taken significant steps towards reducing its carbon footprint, helping to keep energy bills down and saving taxpayers' money. The Liberal Democrats have been at the forefront of ensuring this priority has been driven forward. So far, we have made enormous strides in the right direction but this is not the time to be timid or complacent.” Carbon saving measures achieved to date and being rolled out across Wirral include:
Councillor Gardiner continued, “It's extremely important that we continue the good work and signing up to the 10:10 Challenge is an ideal opportunity to showcase the significant improvements we have made so far, remind people it's one of our key priorities and highlight the opportunity for other people to sign up to the pledge and do their bit for the environment and reduce our energy bills too.” “I would like to urge other public sector partners, private businesses and individual citizens and households to consider signing up the 10:10 pledge. By working together towards this common goal, the entire Borough can play its part in ensuring it reduces its carbon footprint. Eliminating waste and increasing energy efficiency will not only help the environment, it will also help cut costs for people at a time when money is tight during the recession. The Council's Sustainability Unit is here to provide advice to organisations about how to do this.” Finally, she added, “Local authorities such as Wirral are leading the way on the climate change challenge and reducing energy bills; it's important that we lead by example and set our own house in order, as well as encourage others; it is a great shame that our Wirral Labour MPs don't believe that Parliament should do the same by signing up to the 10:10 Challenge.” To go to the 10:10 website - click here
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