feature: Green is go!
12 December 2007
Haringey wants to become the greenest borough in London. Now a new document sets out how the council, residents, businesses and organisations can work together to achieve that aim.
Just over 12 months ago Haringey Council took one of the most significant decisions in its history.
By signing the Nottingham Declaration, it committed itself to working with the government to deliver the UK climate change programme for decades to come.
This has an impact on virtually everything the council does – from promoting sustainable transport to cutting its own energy use, and from improving recycling facilities to encouraging better insulation in homes and offices.
Now these issues and more have been brought together in a wider draft plan looking at how Haringey can lead the way in London when it comes to environmental issues.
The Greenest Borough strategy looks both at the council’s own roles and responsibilities, and also how it works with the wider community so that residents, businesses and organisations are also encouraged to adopt a more environmentally conscious approach.
Objectives include
- Agreeing carbon reduction targets for the council and the borough
- Setting up ‘eco-grants’ for projects reducing carbon emissions
- Installing energy efficient street lighting across the borough
- Reducing the council’s energy use by 10 per cent by 2010
- Developing at least one zero carbon development in Haringey by 2013
- Purchasing electric cars for council business
- Building on Haringey’s success in having the joint highest number of Green Flag parks of any London borough
- Ensuring everyone in Haringey receives the same quality ‘commingled’ recycling services
- Developing on-street recycling bins for commuters
Cabinet member for environment and conservation, Cllr Brian Haley, said:
“Since 2003 we have invested more than £20 million through the Better Haringey programme on improving the borough’s environment. That’s provided us with a very solid platform for now really taking the lead in London when it comes to environmental issues.
“The Greenest Borough Strategy will firmly establish cutting carbon emissions, protecting the natural environment and cleaning up the borough at the very top of the council’s agenda.
“But we clearly need the support of the local community if we’re going to make genuine headway, and we will now be asking their views on the document to ensure we get off to the best possible start.”
Your views
The role of residents, businesses, schools and organisations across Haringey will be crucial in helping the borough become the greenest in London.
We hope you will take the time to look at the draft strategy and give us your views. Are our priorities right? Have we missed anything out?
To read the Strategy and give us your comments please visit www.haringey.gov.uk/goinggreen or call 020 8489 4561 for a hard copy.
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