THE climate change talks in Paris are a once-in-a-lifetime chance to stop our planet over-heating. It will be a tragic disaster if back-sliding by the British Government and others leads to failure at this crucial conference.

Oxford City has joined Labour councils across this country to pledge to make our cities 100 per cent energy clean by 2050. Already Oxford’s car factory, the bus companies, the universities and our city’s hospitals are reducing damaging carbon emissions by at least three per cent a year.

At Oxford City Council we are reducing our own climate-changing gases by five per cent every year by insulating, installing low-energy lighting and using electric vehicles. Solar panels, ground-source heat pumps, cycling and the rest are turning Oxford into a sustainable low carbon city.

We now look to our national leaders to make the Paris talks a success. There is no more important issue than keeping our planet liveable for our children and grandchildren. But it means every city and every country working together for the good of all.

Britain’s Energy Secretary, Amber Rudd MP, has made a bad start by slashing support for renewable energy. Let’s hope the Conservative Government can redeem itself by following Oxford and committing to 100 per cent clean renewable energy by 2050.

Cllr JOHN TANNER (Labour)
Sunningwell Road, Oxford