Birmingham Facing Climate Change Challenge (Birmingham Liberal Democrats)

Birmingham Liberal Democrats <info@birminghamlibdems.org.uk>

Birmingham Facing Climate Change Challenge

May 30, 2008 11:20 PM

Councillor Paul Tilsley and the Liberal Democrats are working to tackle climate change.

Birmingham is hosting a Climate Change Festival from 31 May to 8 June 2008 as part of its commitment to a low carbon future. The 8 day event will bring together leading environmental experts and further details can be found at www.climatechangefestival.org.uk

Councillor Paul Tilsley (Leader of the Liberal Democrat Council Group)said: "Since sustainability and climate change are high on the agenda this festival is sure to make a real difference. Birmingham will be at the centre of national attention and we want to show we are leading the way."

"We were at the heart of manufacturing for almost 100 years, but I would hope we could now be a city that is producing cutting edge technology and goods in an energy efficient way."

Speaking to the Birmingham Mail earlier this month, Councillor Tilsley also emphasised the commitment of the Council to tackling climate change: "We are the largest local authority in the UK so everything we do will have a big impact. It is all about what we can do to influence and impact on others."

The Combined Heat and Power System at the ICC (which heats and cools public buildings and businesses around Broad Street and Victoria Square) is one example. The CHP system is more than 80 per cent efficient as it also generates electricity at the same time and it is estimated to save 1,800 tonnes of CO2 per year.

Councillor Tilsley also thinks that a lot more can be done: "We hope to have a second CHP unit in Eastside which will bring power into Digbeth and the Chinese quarter. We are also looking at using other green technologies, especially for the fleet of council vehicles."

Councillor Tilsley is also supporting Birmingham's target to cut its CO2 emissions by 60 per cent by 2026, even though the date for the overall UK target to be met is not until 2050: "We had to have a target which would stretch us, because there is always a tendency for people to be complacent."

"We have got to start putting in place actions which will help us to reach our target as a city, but Birmingham City Council cannot do this on its own. We have to work with our partners in other areas such as transport."