BOURNEMOUTH has been ranked as one of the leading worldwide ‘cities’ for action taken on climate change.

Global charity, CDP, has added Bournemouth to the ‘A list’, making them part of the 13 percent, or 105 cities, reporting to CDP on the list.

Bournemouth, along with Coventry, Manchester and Leicester, has been recognised for their transparency and action on climate change.

To score an A, a city must have a city-wide emissions inventory, have set an emissions reduction target, published a climate action plan and have completed a climate adaptation plan.

Kyra Appleby, global director of cities, states and regions at CDP, said: “Climate science leaves no doubt that global emissions must be halved by 2030 to limit the effects of the global climate crisis.

“Cities play a crucial role in meeting this challenge, covering just two per cent of the earth’s surface, they are the source of 70 per cent of emissions.

“These 105 cities are setting an example for the level of transparency and action we need from cities worldwide.”

In 2015, Bournemouth Borough Council, now BCP, set a target to reduce emissions by 30 per cent by 2020 which it has surpassed, with a 40 per cent reduction.

A new target is due to be set by the town to further reflect the Paris agreement pathway.

Councillor Felicity Rice, cabinet member for environment and climate change at BCP Council, said: “Tackling climate change is an unprecedented global challenge and through our climate and ecological emergency we have made it very clear how we plan to play a meaningful role.

“This latest accolade provides us with a solid foundation from which we must continue to strive for greater change in addressing key issues and making a real difference.

“Ensuring we have a sustainable environment underpins all our decision making, and this holds true in how we are addressing the significant challenges posed by climate change with our plans for transport infrastructure, energy efficient buildings, renewable sources of energy, and sustainable practices.

“We will continue to work and implement wide-ranging strategic plans to ensure that the actions being taken will reduce the impact of climate change and its effects on residents, businesses and organisations.”