Hackney urged to join other London councils in signing C02 action plan

Calls for Hackney Council to ‘get serious’ about reducing its carbon emissions were made by Hackney and Tower Hamlets Friends of the Earth on 15 September, when the environmental campaign organisation sent a deputation to a full council meeting as part of its ‘Get Serious about CO2’ campaign.

The local Friends of the Earth group is asking the council to commit to a reduction of 40% by 2020, and to adopt an action plan to show how carbon cuts will be made.

The 2008 Climate Change Act introduced legally-binding national commitments to cut emissions by 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. Friends of the Earth believes that local authorities are crucial to a low-carbon future, because they have a large say in transport and planning matters, as well as how residents power and heat their homes. Councils are also well-placed to understand local communities’ interests when building a green future.

Friends of the Earth claims that moving forward with an emission reduction agenda in Hackney would create considerable numbers of new jobs, as well as reducing a host of problems: poor health, congestion and high fuel prices.

A total of 11 councils have already adopted the 40% target, including Haringey and Islington.

Friends of the Earth sought reassurances from cabinet member for crime, sustainability, and customer Services, Sophie Linden, as to the borough’s commitment to achieving 40% emission reductions by 2020. The group was told that the council was committed conducting research in order to establish an interim target.