CARBON emissions will be slashed by council bosses in a move to combat climate change.

While world leaders at the Copenhagen summit continue to wrangle over how to share the burden of tackling the anticipated global climate crisis, councils in Lincolnshire have got down to business and agreed action must be taken.

Under targets outlined in the so-called local area agreement for all of the main councils in the county, there will be a five per cent reduction in emissions in the tax year 2009-10 and a further 7.5 per cent reduction in 2010-11.

Council chiefs believe the targets will be tough, but say they are committed to getting a grip on the issue.

Some campaigners might question the figures and say more needs to be done – but while the world waits to see if any targets can be agreed in Copenhagen, council bosses here have already decided to push ahead.

Richard Belfield, one of those at Lincolnshire County Council tasked with leading the carbon-crunching project, said: "Lincolnshire's prosperity continues to be closely linked to the environment, so it is vital that we tackle both the causes and effects of climate change.

"We will tackle the causes and reduce long-term risk by reducing greenhouse gas emissions – primarily carbon dioxide.

"We will also address those effects already happening, such as sea-levels rising, and manage risks by ensuring adaptation informs our strategies, policies, plans and actions."

Council chiefs in the county are working on ways to meet the targets they have set.

The aim is to take action, before it gets too late.

But some authorities are already planning to go further – with commitments beyond those already agreed.

Lincolnshire County Council aims to cut its emissions by 20 per cent by 2012 and the City of Lincoln Council has the same target for 2013.

Leader of North Kesteven District Council, Councillor Marion Brighton, said the local area agreement targets had been signed up to by all of Lincolnshire's local authorities in an effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

"We are currently in the process of working with the Carbon Trust to develop a carbon management plan," she said.

"This plan will have a target for reducing our carbon emissions.

"The plan will need to be approved by an executive board, so the target has not yet been approved, but we are hoping for a target of a 25 per cent reduction in carbon dioxide emissions over five years."

Authorities made public their plans after the Echo asked them whether they would join the nationwide 10:10 campaign to cut emissions by 10 per cent next year.

None of the authorities in the county have agreed to do this, but they have unveiled plans that they hope will go even further to tackle climate change.

City Hall has installed solar panels to partly power the main council building, staff are being encouraged to cycle to work and there are regular days when staff are urged to switch off lights unless they absolutely need to be on.