Islington Lib Dems are Country's Greenest

11.02.00am GMT Tue 11th Mar 2008

Islington Liberal Democrats have won the title of 'Green Council Group of the Year', in recognition that Islington is leading the way nationally on environmental and sustainability issues.

The award was presented to council leader James Kempton at the party's Spring conference in Liverpool. The award was presented by Lib Dem party leader Nick Clegg MP, and recognises Islington council's work to put climate change and improving the urban environment at the heart of local government.

Islington Liberal Democrats were praised for their Green achievements over the last year, including launching the Climate Change Partnership, with over sixty businesses and organisations - from Arsenal to Starbucks to small local retailers - pledging to reduce their carbon emissions by 15% by 2010.

Islington was also hailed to holding the first referendum on Green parking charges - which was called an authentically Liberal approach to tackling environmental problems.

The group received a Super Lamb Banana statuette as a trophy, a sculpture by Japanese artist Taro Chiezo celebrating Liverpool's European City of Culture year.

James Kempton said:

"This is welcome recognition of the hard work we're doing to make Islington the most environmentally-friendly borough in London.

"We want to spell out a clearly liberal kind of environmentalism: one which works closely with local businesses and organisations, that listens to residents rather than preaching or forcing them into things, and that has the council leading by example. We also take a practical approach. Recycling rates are now the highest ever here because we have made it easier for people to recycle."