WIRRAL Council could soon introduce a “carbon budget” as part of measures by the authority to play its part in tackling climate change.

The proposals have been announced to tie in with the United Nations Climate Change Conference taking place in Copenhagen up to December 18.

Wirral Liberal Democrats are seeking to make Wirral Council among the first local authorities in the country to implement a “carbon budget”.

It is being put forward in a Notice of Motion due to be debated at the meeting of full council next week. The aim is that, by setting an annual carbon budget for each council department and building a clearer picture of the environmental impact of council spending, carbon budgeting will help to meet the local, national and, if Copenhagen negotiations go to plan, global carbon reduction targets.

Wirral Liberal Democrat cabinet member for the environment, Cllr Gill Gardiner, said: “This council has an excellent track record of recycling, waste reduction and energy efficiency. We want to take this to the next stage by embedding carbon reduction into our financial planning.”