Report of the Manchester Climate Change Agency

This report provides a summary of Manchester’s Annual Climate Change Report for 2022 which is based on the latest emissions data released by the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

The Committee considered the report of the Manchester Climate Change Agency that provided a summary of Manchester’s Annual Climate Change Report for 2022. This annual report was based on the latest emissions data released by the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy, and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).

Key points and themes in the report included:

·         The Annual Report enabled Manchester to track its progress against the carbon reduction targets, carbon budget and zero carbon date of 2038 that were set out in the city’s Climate Change Framework, and its recent 2022 Update;

·         Describing that the city achieved a 12% reduction in emissions in 2020 (the most recent data from BEIS) which, despite being a greater increase than previous years, was still below the original 13% per annum target and was largely driven by reduced activity during the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns;

·         Providing an estimate of emissions for 2021 which predicted an increase of 6% compared to 2020, driven by an increase in activity as we came out of lockdowns;

·         Providing a high level summary of activity that had been carried out in support of the city’s Framework by Manchester Climate Change Partnership, its Advisory Groups, and Manchester Climate Change Agency in 2022; and

·         Noting that it did not identify new priorities for next year, as in previous Annual Reports, as these had been captured in granular detail in the 2022 Update to the Framework.

Some of the key points that arose from the Committee’s discussions were: -

·         Expressing concern that the situation in regard to the city’s carbon budget was worse than anticipated;

·         Noting that was even when the pandemic was taken into consideration;

·         More information was sought on the next steps in response to the report;

·         The need to report measurable milestones and progress against established targets, noting this was important to give residents confidence and keep people motivated;

·         The need for the Council to lead on this agenda and seek to use all its powers of influence and leverage on the issue of carbon reduction, especially in regard to buildings and travel;

·         The need to engage landlords in the Private Rented Sector on the issue of retrofitting;

·         Everyone needed to take immediate actions and responsibility to address climate change;

·         Further information and updates on the work of the Zero Carbon Coordination Group were requested for consideration by the Committee;

·         More information was sought on the approach to Green Growth in the city;

·         The need to promote the Manchester Climate Ready website, noting that this was a very useful resource;

·         A report on indirect emissions should be submitted for consideration by the Committee; and

·         The need for a just transition (A just transition seeks to ensure that the substantial benefits of a green economy transition are shared widely, while also supporting those who stand to lose economically – be they countries, regions, industries, communities, workers or consumers.)

The Director, Manchester Climate Change Agency supported the call for the Council to use all of its spheres of influence and their duties and powers to address climate change. She stated that the next steps and actions reported in the Framework remained, noting the need to prioritise the recommendations to realise the improvements required. She noted the request for a report on indirect emissions and key milestones. In response to establishing and reporting against measurable targets she stated that consideration was being given as to how this could be best achieved, noting the challenges presented in doing this in a meaningful way. She acknowledged and agreed with the comment made regarding the importance of messaging to keep citizens motivated on this important issue for the city. 

The Deputy Chief Executive and City Treasurer informed the Committee that the subject of Green Growth was regularly reported to the Economy Scrutiny Committee. In response to the issue of reporting against measurable outcomes she stated that activity and trend data would also provide information in regard to the city’s direction of travel. She further added that the issue of Public Sector Funding remained a concern.

The Executive Member for Environment and Transport noted that the Committee had raised a number of questions in relation to the Airport and the aviation industry. She stated that a substantive report was scheduled to be considered by the Committee at their January 2023 meeting and this would be the opportunity to discuss this subject area in more detail. She further commented that conversations were ongoing regarding school buildings and noted the discussion that had been held at the recent meeting of the Children and Young People Scrutiny Committee. She advised that additional resources had been allocated to strengthen the communications and step-up campaigns. She further advised that there was a requirement in all cultural event and VCSE grant applications to demonstrate how they would mitigate climate change.

The Executive Member for Environment and Transport concluded by thanking the Committee for their continued support and rigorous challenge on this important issue.

The Chair in closing this item advised that she would meet with the Executive Member for Environment and Transport to discuss and agree the scope of future reports to schedule into the Committee’s Work Programme to pick up on the themes discussed during the meeting.

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Decision

To note the report.