In accepting the challenge, council Leader Mary Mears said: “We know it is going to be really tough to more than double our existing target, but it reflects one of our top priorities - to achieve a low carbon Brighton & Hove.

“We think it is important to lead by example, even if it is going to be hard, so we’re calling on local businesses, organisations and individuals to join us in reducing carbon emissions in the city.

“We’ll be seeking to make the 10% reduction by increasing our energy efficiency across the council’s buildings and cutting vehicle use. Reducing the amount of energy we use is not just good news for the environment, it will save taxpayers money too.”

Council initiatives to reduce carbon emissions include:

• Launching a £6 million energy efficiency grant scheme over three years to help householders cut costs and carbon emissions
• Installing a network of electric car charging points in the city
• Running a successful Carbon Management Programme, saving more than £50,000 to date in energy efficiency measures, with more to follow
• Helping secure £180,000 from the Department for International Development for Climate Connections, a three year city-wide public engagement project
• Playing an integral part in helping the city’s Food Partnership secure a grant of £500,000 over four years
• Running the Be Local Buy Local campaign to support local jobs and the environment.

Brighton & Hove is among a number of councils to sign up to the campaign. The others are Camden, Eastleigh, Greenwich, Hackney, Islington, Kirklees, Manchester, Oxford, Richmond, Slough, Stroud and West Sussex.

Fot more details of the "10:10 campaign" go to www.1010uk.org