Cambridge City Council has joined with three national campaigns to call on the Government to provide increased investment and powers for local councils to take climate action.

This has come as part of the council’s involvement in the UK100 Pledge, through which the council has also committed to work with local communities, businesses and partners to reduce carbon emissions.

Last week, the council passed a motion supporting a campaign calling for a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty (FFNPT). The campaign aims to end the development of new fossil fuels and to achieve commitment to reducing the use of fossil fuels on a global scale. It also includes plans to support workers, communities and countries who are currently dependent on fossil fuels to create secure and healthy livelihoods as they transition towards the use of cleaner fuels.

Cllr Anna Smith, Deputy Leader of the council, said she was “delighted” to sign the UK 100 pledge and that the council is “committed” to tackling the climate change emergency: “we have set a target to reduce our direct carbon emissions to net zero by 2030, and we share a vision for Cambridge to be net zero carbon by the same date, and are working collaboratively with our residents, businesses and partner organisations to try to reduce carbon emissions from the city as rapidly as possible.”

But Smith said that “greater ambition, commitment and investment by national Government” is needed to carry out such climate action.

Cllr Rosy Moore, Executive Councillor for Climate Change, Environment and City Centre, said that tackling fuel poverty and addressing the climate emergency are “key priorities” for the council: “We have taken significant action to improve the energy efficiency of council homes and private properties in Cambridge, using our own funds and limited government funding when this has been available.”

Moore added: “We still have a very long way to go as a city and as a country. To ensure that we achieve net-zero carbon emissions and everyone benefits from a warm, comfortable home, we need central government backing and investment in retrofitting homes and training the retrofit workforce of the future.”