Co-ordinated plans setting out what Manchester needs to do to tackle climate change over the next five years – and how the Council will lead the way -are being brought forward this month
The plan lays out what Manchester communities, businesses and organisations including the Council need to do for the city to get on course to meet the 2038 target.
The potential benefits for residents are huge say the council from cheaper energy bills and new green jobs to better public transport, cleaner air and improved access to parks and natural spaces.
To meet its goals over the next five years The City region needs to retrofit 78,850 homes to improve their energy efficiency along with 6,200 non-residential buildings
It needs to install 54,000 heat pumps in properties and almost 400 MW of solar power – enough to power tens of thousands of homes
Around 25% of light and heavy freight vehicles would need to go electric
These measures in place would equate to saving almost 43,000 tonnes of carbon emissions.
Councillor Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment for Manchester City Council, said: “Climate change is one of the most pressing issues facing the world today and nowhere is immune from its impacts. Manchester remains determined to be at the forefront of tackling the issue and the Council is intent on leading by example. Our aim is to use the actions in our Climate Change Action Plan to drive the city’s ambitions.
“Getting this right isn’t just about cutting carbon emissions, as crucial as that is. It will create a wealth of other benefits – greener public spaces, better public transport, cheaper energy bills, cleaner air, new green jobs and a healthier city. It’s not just about what’s best for the planet, but what’s best for Manchester’s residents.
“There will undoubtedly be challenges ahead which require creative solutions. For us this includes the pressures on local government finances. But Manchester has never been somewhere to sit on the sidelines when faced with a crisis and we’re not going to start now. As these plans outline, everybody has their part to play.”
The plans will be considered by the Executive on 15 October for endorsement and full Council on 26 November for formal adoption.
