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Greater Manchester's green fast-track plan outlined

Tuesday, 19 October 2021 15:20

By Alice Richardson, Local Democracy Reporter @AliceRLDR

Greater Manchester plans to 'radically' reduce its carbon emissions by one million tonnes over the next three years.

Proposals to ‘overhaul’ public transport across all 10 boroughs are part of the scheme, as well as the region’s Levelling Up bid, to bring the city-region to carbon neutral by 2038, ahead of the national target.

An ‘accelerated plan’ to cut carbon over the next five years – seen as critical by experts to achieving long-term net zero goals – was presented at this year’s Green Summit.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham called on more than 1,000 delegates at the region’s fourth summit yesterday (Monday October 18) to support the plan and said he believed that the drive to net zero carbon can help to level up the city-region’s transport, homes and jobs.

He added that it will require the government to act now, in its Spending Review next week, if national climate goals are to be met.

Greater Manchester’s proposed Levelling Up Deal, if implemented in full, is expected to remove a million tonnes of carbon from the city-region’s economy – through a mixture of local renewable energy generation, improving efficiency of public buildings and homes, a switch to electric buses and taxis and increased levels of walking and cycling.

A number of business support programmes, led by the Greater Manchester Local Enterprise Partnership, are set to support the city-region’s drive towards a net zero future too.

Andy Burnham said: “The country is at a critical juncture on the journey to net zero.

“If we don’t accelerate now, we run the risk of being unable to hit our national goal of 2050.

“And we are in danger of welcoming the world to COP26 in Glasgow in a few weeks to discuss these crucial matters but presenting a response that is insufficient to the scale of the challenge.

“This is where Greater Manchester can help.

“We have a detailed, science-based plan for a levelled-up net zero city-region by 2038 – with better transport, homes and jobs for our residents.

“And we are ready now to up the pace over the next five years through the Levelling Up Deal we have presented to Government.

“If they back us at the Spending Review next week, we will be the first UK city-region on an accelerated path and a template for others.

“This will add real credibility to the UK Government’s COP26 image to the world.

“As the only city-region that has taken the decision to put buses under public control, we are uniquely placed to speed up decarbonisation of transport.

“We hope the government will work with us to make the most of this opportunity.”

The Mayor also called on the government to deliver on its pledge to level up the country by backing the city-region’s ambitious green agenda and restated his belief in the need for a London-style public transport system across Greater Manchester to make transport affordable, accessible and sustainable.

Greater Manchester has made faster environmental progress in the past four years than over the entire preceding decade.

The region is working to become carbon neutral by 2038, 12 years ahead of the national target.

Authorities said future ambitions require the whole Greater Manchester system to work together to achieve the innovations, efficiencies and transformations necessary.

Coun Neil Emmott, Greater Manchester Combined Authority lead for the green city-region, said: “I have been looking forward to this year’s Green Summit for many months, to see what is taking place across all 10 boroughs of our city-region to collectively achieve our green goals.

“Reaching net zero carbon emissions is more than just an environmental issue.

“Hitting the target will transform lives in the Greater Manchester, levelling us up to one of the best and greenest places in the country.

“It will improve health outcomes, tackle inequalities, generate good quality and secure quality jobs and make out communities better to live, learn and work in.

“A green city-region is a levelled-up city region; a great place to live in every sense.”

Other speakers at the Green Summit included:

  • Chris Boardman, Transport Commissioner
  • Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency
  • Zamzam Ibrahim, Vice President of the European Students’ Union and co-founder of Students Organising for Sustainability
  • Cel Spellman, actor and broadcaster

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