The City of London Corporation is today calling on the Liberal Democrats to prioritise measures at local government level which will help tackle the current climate change emergency.

Today (20 September) the City Corporation will host a roundtable with the Social Market Foundation at the Liberal Democrat party conference, to explore steps local governments can take to reduce their carbon emissions.

The City Corporation’s Policy Chair, Catherine McGuinness, will be joined in the discussion by climate change spokesperson Wera Hobhouse MP, and Liberal Democrats London Assembly Members Caroline Pidgeon and Hina Bokhari.

The Liberal Democrats were among the first political parties to call for a zero-carbon UK, arguing in their 2019 European Elections manifesto that this target must be met by 2045, to contribute to a zero-carbon European Union by 2050.

The City Corporation is already taking radical steps to reduce emissions, transition to renewable energy, and improve air quality. Its ambitious Climate Action Strategy breaks new ground by committing the City Corporation to achieve net zero carbon for its own operations by 2027 and across its investments and supply chain by 2040 – and to support the achievement of net zero for the Square Mile by 2040.

The City Corporation has also been at the forefront of efforts to champion green finance – a key part of the solution to this global challenge to cut carbon emissions.

Policy Chair at the City Corporation, Catherine McGuinness, said:

“The extreme weather events of the last few years have highlighted the imperative of meeting the climate challenge, now. 

“The financial and professional services sector has a role to play in that. We encourage the Liberal Democrats, from local government level up, to advocate measures to forge alliances which will help a sustainable recovery after COVID-19.

“It is vital that local, regional and national government work together, and with wider stakeholders, to achieve net zero targets and reduce carbon emissions.”