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The Mayor of Bristol has joined forces with the leaders of three other UK cities – Aberdeen, Leicester and Milton Keynes – to call on David Cameron to sign up to a fixed energy efficiency target for 2030.
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The cities are all members of Energy Cities, an organisation that represents European local authorities in energy transition.
Together the leaders have sent a letter to the Prime Minister ahead of a summit this week to discuss the EU’s proposed plans, calling for binding targets in order to save jobs and increase the wellbeing of citizens they represent.
It was argued that a fixed target is needed to encourage investors to back the UK’s green economy and build competitiveness.
Bristol is also a member of the Core Cities UK– a group that represents the councils of England’s eight largest city economies outside London along with Glasgow and Cardiff.
In-keeping with its green credentials, Bristol leads the low carbon, energy and resilience portfolio.
George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol and Core Cities Cabinet Member for Low Carbon, said: “I firmly believe that countries with the best environmental policies will be the most successful, which is why I’ve joined forces with fellow leaders to call on the government to offer firm commitments for carbon reduction. These targets are needed not just to make sure the UK plays its part in achieving international goals, but for social and economic reasons as well.
“In Bristol there is clear evidence that energy efficiency policies can increase quality of life for people living here by alleviating fuel poverty and creating jobs.
“We’ve set ourselves some ambitious targets – most recently with our Warm Up Bristol programme aiming to fit 30,000 energy saving measures in four years – and we want government to work with us to do the same.”
As European Green Capital next year, Bristol is leading the way in becoming a sustainable city and has a programme of events running throughout 2015.
At the European Council meeting this week, taking place in Brussels on 23rd – 24th October, leaders will discuss the EU’s proposed 2030 climate and energy framework, which calls for a 30% improvement in energy efficiency by 2030.
A legally-binding agreement to reduce greenhouse gasses by 40% is also proposed, as well as increasing the EU’s share of renewables to 27%.
Core Cities is a group that represents the councils of England’s eight largest city economies outside London along with Glasgow and Cardiff. Core Cities work together to promote the role of our cities in driving economic growth and make them better places to live, work, visit and do business. Bristol leads the low carbon, energy and resilience portfolio. http://www.corecities.com/
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