SUNDERLAND City Council has become one of the first local authorities in the country to sign a declaration on climate change.

The declaration commits the council to working with communities to address the causes and effects of climate change. It will also reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by using more environmentally friendly energy use, travel and transport, waste production and disposal.

The council's chief executive, Colin Sinclair, said: "The council itself is already committed to significantly reducing its own greenhouse gas emissions, but only by working with local communities can we hope to make inroads into reducing the causes of climate change and developing measures to reduce its impact on our daily lives."

Council leader Colin Anderson said: "Climate change and the problems it brings with it affects everyone and everything, as was illustrated only too clearly by the havoc wreaked throughout the country in last year's flooding. Compared with other areas, Sunderland escaped relatively lightly but, unless we act now, it could be a very different story in years to come. Only by working together and accepting that we each need to take more responsibility for the environment around us can we begin to make a difference."