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Durham businesses urged to back Copenhagen

A North East climate change group is calling on businesses in Durham to throw their weight behind a low carbon future at a summit in Copenhagen.

The Climate Durham coalition has urged businesses and residents to attend a lunchtime debate this month and come up with a ‘positive vision’ of a low-carbon future.

The ‘vision statement’ will be presented by Durham’s secondary school pupils in front of a panel of politicians and climate experts in Copenhagen in December.

North East Euro-MP Fiona Hall, who will be presenting a European perspective on the climate negotiations at the event, said: “The Copenhagen climate summit in December is a great opportunity to set out a positive vision of what a low carbon economy would be like locally.

“Public pressure is an important ingredient at the negotiations and I am delighted that Climate Durham is calling on Copenhagen to acknowledge the importance of local community action.”

For the last year, Climate Durham has coordinated its activity through its website where businesses, organisations and the public can share contributions towards meeting climate targets and get practical advice on reducing carbon footprints.

Janie Bickersteth, Chair of Climate Durham, added: “After working locally we want to reach out to a wider audience. We have shown local communities can make a difference by working together.

“Our message to climate change negotiators will be that a world-wide agreement will encourage local action to follow.”

The open meeting will take place in Durham Town Hall on Friday 13 November from 12:30-2pm. For more information go to www.climatedurham.org.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .