Barking and Dagenham Council has pledged to ensure the borough is powered solely with clean energy by 2050.
The promise comes as local authorities across the UK commit to cutting carbon emissions.
In total, 84 cities and councils have voiced their determination to reduce carbon footprints, a decision that could lower the UK’s output by a fifth.
As part of the Climate Change Act, the UK is required to cut carbon dioxide emissions by 80 per cent of what levels were in 1990.
Chris Naylor, Barking and Dagenham Council’s chief executive, attended an event where an interactive map tracking the progress of the pledges was unveiled.
Clean energy (also known as renewable) refers to energy that is derived from naturally replenished sources. Unlike the fossil fuels prevalent throughout the 20th century, of which there is only a finite amount, clean energy enables power without the resulting impact on the environment.
Examples of clean energy include solar power, wind, hydropower and geothermal energy.
Organised by UK100 – the local government network seeking to devise and implement workable initiatives for the transition to clean energy – the launch event took place at the House of Commons. The chief executive was joined there by energy minister, Claire Perry, who commended the UK for being a “world-class leader” in clean energy adoption.
She also congratulated the cities and local authorities committing to the pledge, calling the number signed up a “landmark figure”.
