Cities plan to cut CO2 emissions

Action plans for three major cities to cut their CO2 emissions and fight climate change are to be developed.

Authorities in Bristol, Leeds and Manchester will get help from The Carbon Trust and the Energy Saving Trust to develop low carbon economies.

Boosting renewable energy and implementing trigeneration - creating power, heat and cooling from one source - are to be considered.

Energy-saving measures like promoting cycling will also be promoted.

'Cutting emissions'

Minister for climate change Joan Ruddock said: "Our cities were once at the forefront of the industrial revolution.

"Now they have the opportunity to lead the way again and be the driving force behind our push to a low carbon economy.

"Creating targeted action plans will help them achieve this by setting a clear path for cutting emissions."

Five other cities - Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield - are to audit their current CO2 emissions and identify ways to cut them.