The Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has launched a groundbreaking programme to help large business organisations cut climate change emissions by three million tonnes by 2010, saving £300 million in energy bills.

The two schemes launched deliver on the commitments made in the Mayor's Climate Change Action Plan, and represent the most comprehensive range of climate change services for businesses of any city in the world.

The Green500 will offer practical support and recognition awards to large businesses and public sector organisations in order to become more carbon efficient - companies who sign up will receive a carbon assessment, will be helped to develop an emissions reduction plan in line with the Mayor's target to cut London's emissions by 60 per cent by 2025 and, critically, will commit to publish their progress annually. Companies will be offered a 'carbon mentor' who will work with businesses to help implement the plan and achieve their target - there will be yearly awards to recognise those that reach their target and for top achievers. Initial membership of the Green500 costs £3,500.

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The Better Buildings Partnership is a collaboration between London's leading commercial landlords to improve the carbon efficiency of existing commercial property in the capital. Members of the scheme will commit to setting and achieving benchmark carbon levels for their property portfolios and finding solutions to remove barriers currently preventing the widespread take-up of sustainable building improvements - such as the fact that current rental values rarely take into account the energy efficiency of a building.

The Partnership will be managed by its members with the support of the London Climate Change Agency and the London Development Agency and will include links with professional organisations. Membership of the Better Buildings Partnership is £10,000.

The Mayor of London, said: "The London green organisations programme will motivate, support and reward organisations to reduce their carbon footprint. This is a world first, and places London at the forefront of government and business working together to cut carbon emissions.

"The impressive range of companies who have already signed up to the Green500 and Better Buildings Partnership shows that leading businesses want to take a lead in helping to prevent climate change, and recognise that it increasingly makes commercial sense to do so. I am confident that many more businesses will now follow their example. These programmes are open to all, with the only requirement being a genuine commitment to stop climate change before it is too late."

(JM)