OXFORD has been described as a leader in the fight to tackle global warming after promising to slash its carbon emissions by 10 per cent next year.

The city council is one of a handful of local authorities to sign up to 10:10, a new national campaign aimed at getting hundreds of thousands of organisations across Britain to reduce their carbon footprint.

The council will now draw up a list pledges, including insulating its entire housing stock and installing special meters that record levels of energy use.

Tonight, city councillors from across the political divide hailed Oxford’s involvement in the scheme, which urges everyone to take small steps to reduce energy consumption.

Labour’s John Tanner, executive member for a Cleaner, Greener Oxford, was at today’s launch and said: “I think it is a fantastic idea and one that everybody needs to embrace.

“We are doing our bit and we would urge people in Oxford to make those small changes and really help the city reduce its carbon footprint.”

However, the city council was unable today to give any figures about the size of its carbon emissions or how much a 10 per cent reduction will be.

The news comes just two weeks after plans for a £3m municipal wind turbine in Horspath were announced as part of a scheme it is hoped will create energy for 1,200 Oxford homes.

Green group leader Craig Simmons said: “Improving the city’s council housing stock with insulation is one obvious opportunity that has a significant savings potential, as has improvement of the Town Hall’s energy efficiency.

“By signing up to the 10:10 campaign the council is making a very public commitment to tackle its own carbon footprint and establishing itself in a leadership position.”

In July, climate change Secretary Ed Miliband said Oxford was becoming “the green capital of Britain” for the way it encouraged community-based eco projects.

Liberal Democrat city councillor Alan Armitage said: “I think 10:10 is a very important scheme, which should be backed by everybody. We all have a responsibility to reduce our carbon emissions.”

Deputy city council leader Ed Turner said: “It is absolutely vital everybody plays their part and I think councils have a particular duty to lead the way.”

A spokesman for the 10:10 campaign said: “Cutting emissions by 10 per cent in one year is a bold target, but for most of us it’s an achievable one and is in line with what scientists say we need over the next 18 months.

“Unless we act quickly, humanity will face terrible problems. It’s now or never for the climate.”