100 councils sign up to 10:10 in 100 days

Today, the 100th day of the 10:10 Campaign, Edinburgh became the 100th council to commit to reducing its carbon pollution by 10% in 2010.

100 councils responsible for services to 18m people, nearly one in three of the UK population. 100 councils aspiring to do what scientists say we need to do if we are to avert runaway climate change. 100 councils inspiring others to make the same commitment to a lower carbon future.

Local authorities are the unsung heroes of the 10:10 Campaign. Our emissions are measured. Our decision to cut them is verifiable. We are answerable to our electorates.

We should not delude ourselves – the first 10% is by far the easiest part of the journey. We need to hit 40% by 2020 and more than 80% by 2050. These are immense challenges and few of us can really have grasped the enormity of the changes that lie ahead. But we have proved that we can make the right start and that we can lead the way.

If we can do it, then so can every other organisation, every business and every household in the UK.