Who’d have thought? Last night Stoke on Trent became the first city to sign up to the 10:10 commitment. The council, the college, Staffordshire University, businesses, churches, Port Vale Football club, and several schools have all signed up, making it a city-wide initiative.

Quite a surprise. I lived in Stoke on Trent for four years, and it never struck me as a hot-bed of environmental forward thinking. It is however, a place in need of renewal, and the greening of Stoke could have far-reaching effects. With the potteries going or gone, the industrial heart of Stoke on Trent has crumbled. A re-invention as a green pioneer could be a hugely successful idea, showing plenty of other towns how climate change action can be positive, creating jobs and local pride.

It’s also a great boost for the 10:10 organisation. “It is hugely exciting to see Stoke-on-Trent become the first 10:10 city” said Eugenie Harvie, director of 10:10. “This is what 10:10 is all about – people and groups, committed to combating climate change, coming together to pack a punch far greater than they could have on their own. Seeing this in action here in Stoke strengthens my conviction that Britain will be a leader in demonstrating that people can and will take action to turn climate change around.”

10:10 in Stoke appears to be largely the work of MP Joan Walley, long standing Stoke on Trent North MP and member of the committee behind the Climate Change Bill. She will be attending the Copenhagen summit, and it’s great to see an MP dealing with climate change at both the global and local level.