DURHAM City Council has signed up to the battle against global warming, committing itself to putting in place a climate change strategy.

The council has signed the Nottingham Declaration, pledging to tackle climate change in the district and work with other councils to reduce emissions across the country.

Durham City will now set up a group to develop the council's first climate change strategy, led by Jonathan Elmer, the council's sustainable development manager.

Coun Anji Rae, the cabinet portfolio member for the environment, said: "We have taken a number of positive steps to reduce carbon emissions and become more energy efficient so we want to develop this more fully with a proper strategy that will be co-ordinated and monitored.

"Signing the Nottingham Declaration clearly shows our commitment."

Mr Elmer said: "Accepting the reality of climate change and its linkage to human activity rather than natural climatic cycles has been a major step forward for ours and other governments.

"Accepting responsibility to change the way we do things takes even more effort and that's why we need to develop a strategy with clear actions."

The Government has produced a draft Climate Change Bill which will become law next year, setting national carbon emission targets.

More than 200 councils have signed up to the Nottingham Declaration.