Scotland's local authorities are set to be among the first signatories to a new Declaration on Climate Change, which will set out goals to reduce CO2 emissions and work towards more efficient use of power, the Scottish Executive has announced.
<p>As part of the program to reduce Scotland's greenhouse gas emissions, the Scottish Executive has been working with councils to develop a common declaration of intent on climate change to which local government and other stakeholders can commit.<br /><br />Environment minister Ross Finnie said: Scotland takes climate change seriously. An effective response to climate change cannot be achieved by central government alone…I am therefore delighted that all of Scotland's local authorities have expressed a commitment to sign Scotland's Climate Change Declaration and to support delivery of Scotland's Climate Change Program.<br /><br />Included in the declaration are commitments to prepare and publicly declare a plan, with targets and time-scales, to achieve a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from local authority operations including energy use, transport and waste; and to publish an annual statement on progress in addressing climate change.</p>