Aitken signs city up to pledge for action on tackling climate change

COUNCIL leader Ewan Aitken was today due to sign a declaration aimed at tackling climate change in Scotland.

The Scottish Executive has drawn up a statement of intent on climate change, which all councils have agreed to support.

Included in the declaration are commitments to publicly declare a plan, with targets and time-scales, to achieve a significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions and to publish an annual statement on progress.

Councillor Aitken was expected to be one of the first council leaders to ratify the document at a short ceremony at Towerbank Primary School in Portobello this morning.

He said today: "This is a momentous occasion which unites local authorities big and small and across the political divide.

"It signifies that climate change is an issue which must, and will, remain top of the agenda.

"The declaration is an expression of local commitment and a clear statement of intent to take action to respond to the challenge of climate change.

"Local action is as important as national action and I am committed to ensuring that we in Edinburgh are doing our part to bring about real change and protect our environment."