City initiative on 'peak oil'

EDINBURGH is set to become one of the first UK cities to actively reduce its dependency on oil.

"Transition" initiatives have emerged across the country – community-led schemes to build local economic resilience and help reduce carbon emissions.

A new steering group has been established in the Capital to promote the idea in Edinburgh.

Green councillor Maggie Chapman and Labour group leader Ewan Aitken helped persuade councillors to support it.

The Transition City initiative confronts the problem of "peak oil" and climate change, which is when not enough oil to keep the economy running is combined with a need to cut carbon levels.