Manchester Council will aim to reduce its carbon emissions by 44% from 2025 to 2030 – saving almost 43,000 tonnes of carbon under a new action plan published today
The plan would enable the organisation to remain on track to meet its goal of becoming zero carbon by 2038, building on the successes of the previous plan for 2020-25.
For 2020-25, this ‘carbon budget’ was 126,336 tonnes. The Council was able to stay within this – emitting only 122,000 tonnes of carbon – through a range of measures including retrofitting 40 of its buildings to improve energy efficiency, new LED street lighting and replacing more than half of its bin lorries with electric alternatives.
For 2025-30 this maximum amount allowed falls to 79,300 tonnes, which requires a reduction of around 41,500 tonnes over the period. The Council’s emission reduction programme is targeting slightly more than that – saving 42,871 tonnes of carbon through the following headline actions alone.
Under the plan the council will purchase renewable energy directly from a newly-created solar farm from 2026 through a Power Purchase Agreement – saving 17,600 tonnes.
It will Decarbonise the rest of the council’s waste and operational vehicles by moving from diesel and petrol to low emission vehicles – saving 12,011 tonnes and will save 6,730 tonnes through an ongoing programme of building sustainability measures.
The plans will maximuse the efficiency of the street lighting network – saving 3,030 tonnes and decarbonise the Manchester Energy Network, a shared heating system used by a number of Council and other city centre buildings, which currently run on natural gas – saving 3,000 tonnes.
Cllr Tracey Rawlins, Executive Member for Environment, said: “We all have a role in tackling climate change. The Council is determined to lead by example. The Climate Change Action Plan sets out how we will continue to play our part to the full, both in further reducing our own carbon emissions and in supporting businesses and residents to reduce theirs, as well as lobbying to shape regional, national and even international policy.
“Not everything is in our control, and there are many challenges ahead – not least the financial constraints we face in common with all councils – but we remain determined to deliver.”
