Stoke gets 10:10 for going green
Stoke has become the UK's first city to support 10:10
Stoke-on-Trent has become the first city to sign up to a new initiative aimed at encouraging the UK to cut its carbon emissions by 10% by the end of 2010.
Joan Walley, the Labour MP for Stoke-on-Trent North, is behind the city's decision to agree to film director Franny Armstrong's 10:10 commitment and its council, police force and fire brigade are among the bodies supporting the pledge, reports the Guardian.
The politician has revealed she would like Stoke's new link with the campaign to make the area a pioneer in the development and use of green technologies.
A key part of this strategy is to find ways to promote collaboration on eco-friendly concepts between local government, science and the general public.
One example of an organisation that has already made steps on the issue is the city's Abbey Lane Allotments Association, which is already using water harvesting systems and looking into using renewable energy to support its work.
Ms Walley is hoping such projects will be inspired by the area's heritage, particularly the work of Josiah Wedgwood and James Brindley.
She explained to the newspaper: "Those men didn't doubt; they got on and did. They helped drive the industrial revolution, and they made this place a world leader. Now we need to do it again."
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