A Carbon Management Plan has been launched which outlines the many challenges the council faces in trying to reduce emissions to adapt to a future low carbon economy.

With support from the Carbon Trust Scotland, the plan seeks to improve the South Lanarkshire council's performance through the preparation of a sustainable development strategy, a key objective of which is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In 2005/06 £15.4m was spent on energy and carbon based fuels and with costs of both increasing above the rate of inflation it is expected to rise to around £16m in 2007/08.

Investment in energy efficiency measures and replacement of older buildings has helped slow this increase but much more needs to be done to achieve a reversal in this trend.

Councillor Gerry Convery, the chair of the council's Community Resources Committee, said: "The Stern Review, the UK Climate Change Bill, recent budget announcements, and changes in planning regulations indicate that efforts to reduce carbon emissions are now entering the core of policy making and the council can't afford to ignore this change in thinking.

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"The purpose of our Carbon Management Plan is to set out how the Council can begin to meet this objective. The document outlines the main sources of our greenhouse gas emissions and current trends for each which, combined, were estimated at 142,394 tonnes of CO2 during 2005/06."

The burning of carbon based fuels for heating, vehicle use and energy generation, as well as the release of methane from waste in landfill sites, are the UK's biggest sources of greenhouse gases which, according to a broad scientific consensus, are the gasses responsible for global warming.

The UK is now party to international and European agreements to make significant reductions in its greenhouse gas emissions and achieving these commitments will require action by both the public and commercial sector as well as individuals.

John Stocks, the manager of Carbon Trust Scotland, said: "The good news is that through the Carbon Management Programme, energy can become a controllable overhead and implementing good carbon management can lead to significant cash savings.

"As well as releasing funds which can be better spent on resources and services for local residents, this plan will help the council cut its carbon emissions, reduce its environmental impact and improve its reputation within the community."

(GK/JM)