Momentum continues to build with the campaign to cut carbon emissions as Britain’s biggest council signs up.

Birmingham City Council announced it is the latest council to sign up to the national 10:10 campaign and pledge to cut carbon emissions by 10% this year.

Designed as a way to kick-start the move away from fossil fuel use, the initiative also complements the Birmingham Declaration, a seven-point plan to cut the city’s own carbon emissions between now and 2015.

Overall the 10:10 campaign has the support of 125 councils, which serve 21.4m people within the UK.

Other organisations signed up to the campaign apart from councils include Sony UK, Royal Mail and T-Mobile.

Blackburn with Darwen Council also announced it was signing up after a resolution was agreed by councillors.

The council is already investing in energy efficiency measure such as new lighting, voltage optimisation and combined heat and power boilers.

But it is now investigating renewable energy solutions such as biomass boilers and solar panels.

Blackburn revealed it emits nearly 30,000 tonnes of carbon every year from its buildings, school, streetlights, fleet and business travel - roughly 5.5 tonnes for every member and member of staff.

Cutting its carbon footprint by 10% would help to save money – up to £500,000. Cllr David Foster, deputy leader of the council, said: ‘Signing up to the 10:10 campaign shows how seriously we are taking our commitment to climate change and reducing our own emissions.’

Cllr Paul Tilsley, deputy leader of Birmingham City Council, said: ‘Birmingham is a genuine heavyweight when it comes to the sustainability agenda. I hope that by being part of this wider network we can gain even more information on how we can make the city an even green place to live.’

For more information on the 10:10 campaign, visit www.1010uk.org