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This is the call from London Councils (a lobby group, representing London's 33 councils), who argue that the government should provide greater support to the country's urban authorities to ensure that new and existing buildings in cities are ready to meet the challenge of climate change.

The call comes in response to the government's proposals to create a number of eco-towns in the UK. These are ambitious new green developments using low and zero carbon technologies.

Currently these proposals are limited to new towns. However, London Councils argues that similar developments could be delivered in the capital – and they now want to work with government to find ways to enable boroughs to rise to the zero carbon challenge and set up ‘eco-centres' in London too.

London Councils has called for the number of properties needed to set up the scheme to be reduced from the 5,000 currently proposed, and for the scheme to include businesses and existing housing - not just new builds.

Commenting on the proposal, Councillor Jamie Carswell, London Councils Executive Member for Housing, said:
"London is keen to take the lead in tackling climate change. The government has outlined exciting proposals for eco-towns outside of urban centres but we want to explore setting up smaller eco-centres in the capital too. And boroughs will also need more funding to retro-fit existing homes to meet greener standards. Our cities are the places where we can make the greatest environmental impact – and London's local authorities are eager to lead the way."