Climate Change Commission

The Climate Change Commission first met in October 2006 to review many of the council's services and examine how the council responds to the challenge of climate change.

The commission was chaired by Councillor Clare Whelan who was joined by Councillors Braithwaite, Heywood and Thackray. The commission created its report in August 2007.

Officers across the council responded with action proposals to the 45 recommendations. Cabinet adopted the Climate Change Commission report and the Climate Change Commission action plan in January 2008.

In September 2008 the Environment and Community Safety Scrutiny Sub-Committee received an update from officers on progress with the actions so far and asked the Cabinet Member to take further challenging targets to Cabinet. Subsequently, at Cabinet in February 2009, it was resolved:

• that Cabinet adopt the higher target of 80 per cent of cuts in carbon emissions by 2050 with regular testing and benchmarking
• that immediate efforts be undertaken to identify and tackle council buildings which most significantly contribute to climate and
• that a strategy should be produced to increase energy efficiencies and raise the priority of energy management generally.

The action plan will be monitored again by the sub-committee during 2009.