Labour councillors across South London are working to fight climate change by backing the 10:10 campaign. The campaign aims for individuals, businesses and organisations to commit themselves to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by 10% during 2010.

Sir Steve Bullock, Lewisham’s Mayor, and Cllr Steve Reed, Leader of Lambeth have already given their backing to 10:10 by signing up to the pledge. But Lib Dem/Tory run Southwark has so far failed to give the campaign its support. Cllr Barrie Hargrove, Southwark Labour's Environment and Transport spokesman, has written to Southwark's Lib Dem environment boss, Cllr Paul Kyriacou, calling on him to commit the council to the pledge.

Sir Steve Bullock – Mayor of Lewisham  of Lewisham said:

“This is a no brainer.  We all, individually and collectively, need to use less energy and reduce our effect on our environment.  In Lewisham I want us to do even more than this and set us the target of a 50% reduction by 2015, signing up to this campaign complements the work we’re already doing. The 10:10 campaign sets out reasonable and achievable objectives that we can all support.  I’ll be writing to all of Lewisham Council’s partners as well as other political parties on the Council encouraging them to follow our lead.”

Cllr Steve Reed – Leader of Lambeth said:

“As a Council, Lambeth has already reduced its carbon emissions by 14% and earlier this year set challenging targets to reduce our carbon footprint further – we all have to act now if we are to avert the effects of climate change. I would encourage all our partners to sign up to the 10:10 campaign."

Southwark Labour’s Environment and Transport spokesman Cllr Barrie Hargrove said:

“I’ve already signed up to the 10:10 pledge personally and am asking all of my colleagues to do the same. But while we all need to reduce our carbon footprints individually, large organisations like councils have an even greater responsibility to act.

“Southwark has a huge housing stock with a series of large district heating systems and a number of council offices, which are all potentially big polluters. If Lib Dem environment boss Cllr Kyriacou is seriously committed to bringing down energy use across the borough then he has to start by making sure that the council cuts its own energy use.”

See the text of Cllr Hargrove's letter below

Dear Cllr Kyriacou,

I am writing to ask you to commit the council to the 10:10 pledge, where individuals and organisations promise to cut their carbon emissions by 10% in 2010. Councils across London have already pledged to do just that. Our neighbouring boroughs of Lambeth and Lewisham have this week decided to sign the 10:10 pledge, not to mention the entire Cabinet and Shadow Cabinet.

The importance of cutting carbon emissions cannot be overstated. People across the world are already suffering from the damaging effects of climate change, with more unpredictable weather patterns, drier summers and increased instances of flash floods. And the effects are hitting the world’s poorest hardest. The developed world is most responsible for climate change and most able to cut its carbon emissions. It is up to us therefore to make the biggest changes to our behaviour.

Not only would joining the pledge guarantee the council’s commitment to cutting our carbon emissions considerably next year, but I believe it also sets a positive example for our residents and to other councils up and down the country. That’s why I am also signing the pledge personally and asking my shadow cabinet colleagues to do the same.

To sign the pledge and join the campaign simply go to www.1010uk.org.

Regards,

Cllr Barrie Hargrove

Shadow Executive Member for Environment and Transport