Cities team up to cut emissions

Several British cities have joined forces to cut emissions.

The Core Cities Group of Birmingham, Bristol, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield have signed up to the new programme.

Established by a charity set up by former US President Bill Clinton, it will see councils work together to cut emissions over the next two years.

The Clinton Climate Initiative was announced by Councillor John Shipley, leader of Newcastle City Council.

Carbon emissions

Speaking at the Core Cities Summit in Liverpool, he said: "This gives us the chance to demonstrate our commitment to addressing climate change, show leadership, and show that we are acting together to reduce carbon emissions across all our cities on a big scale."

The Clinton Climate Initiative will work with the Greater London Authority and begin the programme with improving energy efficiency of buildings.

London has already set up the Building Energy Efficiency Programme (BEEP), in partnership with the Initiative.

The capital has 42 buildings currently being retrofitted under the first stage of the programme and has committed another 58 buildings to follow.

The Core Cities group said urban areas alone were responsible for about one third of all carbon emissions in England.