Cllr Bernard Little will calling at the next full Council meeting for an all-party group of councillors and council officers to set targets for reducing Sheffield's carbon emissions. The group would look into how the city's policies and projects affect levels of greenhouse gases. The Treasury's Stern report warns that global average temperatures rises of more than by 2°C will wreck the economy as well as the environment.

Cllr Little said, "Sheffield City Council's own services account for less than 5% of Sheffield's total carbon emissions. But the Council doesn't only have power over its own activities. It can influence how much pollution is produced throughout the city through its policies on planning, transport, waste and much more."

The motion that the Green Councillors are putting forward says that the Council should lead the way on tackling climate change by setting a baseline of current greenhouse gas emissions for Sheffield and working with its partners in the city, for example through Sheffield First Partnership, to make sure that action plans are drawn up for reducing emissions against the baseline. The motion also advises that the Council should get help from an expert partner organisation such as the Stockholm Environmental Institute, which has already worked with several councils, including Leeds and Nottingham, to help them lead their cities on climate change.

For more information, contact Kathy Aston 0114 222 1795 (W), 231 1548 (H)