Manchester pledges to become a ‘zero carbon’ economy within 20 years

Manchester City Council has committed to reducing emissions by 13% a year from 2018 onwards as well as bringing forward their goal of becoming a zero carbon economy to 2038, 12 years earlier than planned.

The council’s executive formally adopted the new target at a meeting yesterday (November 14), which was proposed by the city’s Climate Change Board, in line with research carried out by the world-renowned Tyndall Centre for Climate Change.

Recommendations produced by the Tyndall Centre, based at the University of Manchester, include a set of actions and a proposed definition of ‘zero carbon’.

Under the plan, Manchester will adopt a science-based ‘carbon budget’, capping total emissions at 15 million tonnes from 2018 to 2100.

Executive Member for the Environment, Planning and Transport, Councillor Angeliki Stogia, said: ‘The new target for Manchester to be a zero carbon city by 2038 is challenging, but it is clear that going further is necessary if we are to play our full part in limiting the future impacts of climate change.

‘A zero carbon city will have many benefits for our citizens, not least enhanced air quality, better public transport networks, lower energy bills and future job opportunities in the growing low-carbon energy sector.

Claire Perry, Minister for Energy and Clean Growth, said: ‘The case for tackling climate change is more stark than ever before, but it’s not just for government to tackle alone – communities and businesses also need to play their part.

Manchester’s Climate Change Board will now develop a draft action plan by March 2019, ahead of producing a final plan by 2020, detailing how the city can stay within its carbon budget.

Read the report here.

In September Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham, who has championed green issues since taking charge in 2016, signed up the city region to Cities4Forests alongside 44 other cities across six continents.

Each city made a commitment to conserve and restore their forests while making residents more aware of the benefits of trees.