A Scottish Council has become one of the first in the UK to celebrate achieving the 'Carbon Masters Standard'.

West Dunbartonshire Council received the status for exceeding targets set for reducing its carbon emissions.

The award was given to the Council after it demonstrated an 11% carbon emissions reduction between 2009/10 and 2011/12 for gas, electricity, oil and petrol consumption.

The scheme was developed by Edinburgh-based consultancy Carbon Masters and was approved by the UK Environment Agency as a Carbon Trust equivalent standard.

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The award is designed to help the UK reduced its total carbon emissions by encouraging individual councils and organisations to reduce their carbon emission year on year.

The Council says the reduction has been achieved through the implementation of fuel-efficient vehicles and "a change of activity, behaviour and habits in the workplace to help bring energy usage down."

Councillor David McBride, convener of housing, environmental and economic development, said: "We are delighted to have attained this significant award which recognises that this council is taking its climate change responsibilities very seriously.

"I would like to thank staff for the work they've put in to achieve this recognition. To be one of the first councils in the UK to achieve this recognition is great and it is certainly something we are committed to further improving in the years to come."

The council says it plans to continue to reduce its carbon emissions and achieve the next level of the Carbon Masters Standard.

(IT)