Report of the Director of the Manchester Climate Change Agency attached

The Executive considered a report of the Manchester Climate Agency (MCCA), which provided an update on Manchester’s Climate Change Framework (2020-25) 

The Executive Member for Environment advised that the update of the Manchester Climate Change Framework had been developed to ensure it remained a live document, responsive to the needs of a changing city and the urgency of the climate emergency.  The purpose of the 2022 Update was to present the findings of detailed modelling done to identify granular targets for reducing the city’s direct emissions by 50%, to help the city stay within its carbon budget; provide an overview of ongoing work carried out in support of the Framework’s other headline objectives, notably on adaptation to climate change and recommend specific actions for delivery at local, regional, and national level by government and the wider public sector, private companies and third sector organisations, and communities and individuals, that would support the transition to a zero carbon and climate resilient city.

The Update had co-designed over 150 recommended actions organised into four categories according to where there was direct control to deliver, affect or influence the required change or outcome:-

·                To be delivered locally, where direct control lies in Manchester;

·                To work on at city-region level, with Greater Manchester partners;

·                To advocate for national government to do; and

·                To do differently, where there are opportunities to innovate.

It was reported that urgent action was needed to reduce direct emissions from  buildings and ground transport, and to increase renewable energy generation, if Manchester was to stay within its carbon budget.  Decisive action was also needed to assess the city’s vulnerability to climate change and to ensure the city was adapting its infrastructure, buildings, economy, and residents to be resilient to a changing climate.

It was highlighted that everyone had a role to play – individuals, organisations, local and national government and the cost of transitioning to a zero carbon, climate resilient city could not be borne solely by the public purse; there needed to be innovative ways to unlock private finance investment.

It was also noted that tackling the climate crisis brought opportunities to deliver wider strategic ambitions, including improving people’s health, reducing fuel and food poverty, creating new jobs and economic growth, and delivering a greener city for everyone.

In essence the update was a call to action for everyone in Manchester.  Manchester Climate Change Partnership (MCCP) would champion the delivery of the recommendations set out, but everyone needed to increase the pace and scale of their own activity, and reach out to support and collaborate with others, if the city was to succeed in achieving its ambitions.

To support the prioritisation of effort, in particular for reducing direct emissions, MCCP had asked MCCA to assess the comparative impact of the recommended actions, building on the insights already provided by the detailed emissions baseline and 50% reduction targets.

MCCP had also asked MCCA to develop options for tracking the city’s progress towards its zero carbon and climate resilient goals, in a way that enhances the existing Annual Reports. MCCP members and its independent Advisory Groups would support all these activities.

Councillor Leech sought clarification as to when the City’s Carbon Budget would expire on its current trajectory.

Decisions

The Executive:-

(1)      Formally adopt the 2022 Update to the Manchester Climate Change Partnership Framework’s aim, vision, objectives, and targets as the definition of what Manchester needs to achieve to ‘play its full part in limiting the impacts of climate change’;

(2)      On behalf of the city, endorse the 2022 Update to the Manchester Climate Change Partnership Framework (2020 – 25) as Manchester’s high-level strategy for achieving the aim, vision, objectives, and targets; and

(3)          Support the delivery of the refreshed 2020-25 Manchester City Council Climate Change Action Plan to contribute towards the successful implementation of the citywide Framework.