Camden Council has reduced its carbon footprint by 9% according to figures released for 2010/11, as part of the national 10:10 Campaign.

The figures mean that the council is ahead of the average 7% reduction achieved by other local authorities across the UK.

Councillor Sean Birch, Camden Council's cabinet member for sustainability and transport said: "We're proud to be one of the leading local authorities involved in this important stand against climate change. Ten per cent was a very tough target but we were determined to do all we could and to show the way for other organisations in Camden."

The Council has set itself ambitious emissions reduction targets over the next decade - 21% reduction by March 2015 and 40% reduction by March 2020.

Measures being used by the Council under its Carbon Management include:

-use of alternative fuels
-training staff about eco-friendly driving
-retrofitting buildings with improved insulation, lighting/heating/cooling controls and installation of renewable energy
-pledge events promoting carbon reduction
-modernisation of street lighting

10:10 executive director Angle Bryant said: "As an organisation that Camden home, 10:10 is very aware of how much the Council is doing, not just to bring down their own carbon footprint but also to encourage the local community to act similarly. Camden Council was the first London borough to report their result and a 9% carbon saving in a year is terrific, particularly for an organisation that's been working on this for a while."

www.camden.gov.uk/ccm/themes/green-camden/what-we-are-doing/
www.1010global.org/uk