Lib Dems demand 'take climate change seriously'

11.21.55am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 2nd Apr 2007

Labour's plan doesn't go far enough and shows that they are not taking the issue of climate change seriously enough

Today Labour bosses on Sheffield City Council agreed a strategy to increase renewable energy in the City. However the main opposition Lib Dem group have expressed their disappointment that the plan doesn't go far enough. Under the plan only 3% of Sheffield's energy would come from renewable sources by 2021.

The strategy has identified four possible sites for wind turbines and other sites for biomass and hydro power. However under Labour's plan Sheffield would only be producing 1% of total electricity consumption (based on 2004 figures) through renewable sources by 2010. In 2021 the figure would only rise to 3% under their plan.

Liberal Democrats want to see Sheffield setting much more ambitious targets for renewable energy generation. They believe that Labour's plan doesn't go far enough and will fail to bring about real action to tackle climate change.

Councillor Paul Scriven, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group, said: -

"Labour's plan doesn't go anywhere near far enough and shows that this council isn't taking the issue of climate change seriously enough"

"We need to see much more ambitious targets at every level for generating renewable energy locally. We need to do more to enable local people to contribute and we need to be much more strict in demanding sustainable measures from developers"

"Lib Dems are not content with this council simply following the crowd on climate change issues. We want to put Sheffield at the forefront of the battle to preserve our environment for future generations"