Report of the Head of City Policy

In November 2018, the Committee and Executive agreed to the establishment of science-based carbon reduction targets for Manchester. This required the city to become zero carbon by 2038. Since then, the Manchester Climate Change Board, with the support of Anthesis, have developed a guide to support organisations in Manchester to play their full part in achieving this commitment. They have also developed a draft zero carbon framework 2020-2038 and started work to produce a draft action plan for 2020-25. This report sets out a framework for future action, the citywide progress that has been made since November 2018 and the specific contribution being made by the Council.

The Committee considered the report of the Head of City Policy, that noted that in November 2018, the Committee and Executive had agreed to the establishment of a science-based carbon reduction target for Manchester. This required the city to become zero carbon by 2038. Since then, the Manchester Climate Change Board, with the support of Anthesis, had developed a guide to support organisations in Manchester to play their full part in achieving this commitment. They had also developed a draft zero carbon framework 2020-2038 and started work to produce a draft action plan for 2020-25. This report set out a framework for future action, the citywide progress that had been made since November 2018 and the specific contribution being made by the Council.

The Committee had been invited to comment on this report prior to its submission to the Executive on the 13 March 2019. 

Officers referred to the main points and themes within the report which included: -

·         Noting that the Our Manchester Strategy set out the vision for Manchester to “be in the top flight of world-class cities by 2025” and committed the city to “playing our full part in limiting the impacts of climate change.”

·         The Council supported the Manchester Climate Change Board (MCCB) to take forward work to engage partners in the city to address climate change;

·         Noting that the Council had adopted a science-based carbon budget which was developed by the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and committed the city to becoming zero carbon by 2038;

·         Manchester’s carbon budget was broken down into short, medium and long term allocations. Each carbon budget outlined the emissions not to be exceeded for each period, in order to ensure that Manchester met its overall emission reduction commitments to 2038;

·         Information on the Draft Zero Carbon Framework 2020-2038 and Action Plan 2020-22;

·         Information on the Council’s Draft Action Plan, noting the initial action plan which outlined the high level actions that the Council would undertake between April 2019 and March 2020 in order to produce a comprehensive action plan by March 2020;

·         This topic should be a regular agenda item at ward coordination meetings to ensure that as many residents as possible were engaged with this agenda; and

·         It was recognised that residents needed to be engaged in a meaningful way to ensure they are able to contribute to the ambitious targets.

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

·         The importance of retrofitting domestic properties and what was being done to support this activity;

·         Consideration needed to be given to developing green jobs that could then link into local colleges to develop green skills and employment;

·         It was important to engage all sections of the community in this agenda to deliver the required outcomes and Ward Coordination meetings and Neighbourhood Teams should be utilised to raise awareness of this important issue;

·         More needed to be done to raise awareness as to the urgency of this issue;

·         Expressing concern that the Greater Manchester Pension Fund continued to invest in fossil fuels and what was being done to address this;

·         Park and Ride schemes should be established to encourage people to use alternative forms of transport, rather than cars; and

·         The Chair suggested that she would meet with the Executive Member to discuss options for progressing this work through neighbourhoods.

The Executive Member for Environment, Planning and Transport said that she welcomed the continued support and suggestions from the Committee to deliver this important commitment. She informed the Committee that a comprehensive delivery plan would be presented in 2020, however it was important that actions were taken straight away that involved all residents of Manchester in an ‘Our Manchester’ approach. She said the importance of achieving the carbon reductions could not be underestimated and all citizens of Manchester would play an active role in delivering this. She said the bold and pioneering commitment given by Manchester to adopt a science based carbon budget was recognised both nationally and internationally.

The Executive Member for Environment, Planning and Transport said that discussions were ongoing with the Greater Manchester Pension Fund regarding their investment in fossil fuels and an announcement on this issue could be imminent. Further information is expected at the Greater Manchester Green Summit on 25 March 2019.

Jonny Sadler, Manchester Climate Change Agency set out the urgency of this agenda; Manchester has formally agreed a science based carbon budget of 15 million tonnes CO₂ for 2018-2100. Annual emissions are currently approximately 2 million tonnes, meaning that the carbon budget will be spent by 2025 unless urgent action is taken. Mr Sadler commented that the leadership in this area expressed by Manchester and the Council was widely recognised nationally and internationally; but that work was needed to maintain this leadership. He noted the carbon budget and the emissions against this to date, stating that actions needed to be implemented immediately to improve emissions and that it was important that Members, with their local knowledge engage with their local residents and businesses to promote this activity, raise awareness and influence behaviour change. In regard to retrofitting housing he advised that Social Housing providers were committed to delivering this, however challenges existed for home owners and those in the private rented sector. He said there were a number of small initiatives to support this but scaling this up is urgently needed, through working with MCC and partners.

Mr Sadler fully endorsed the comments regarding green skills and employment and said that there was an opportunity to ensure these important connections were made in the city’s Industrial Strategy. He advised that the importance of reducing carbon emissions was recognised and incorporated into a range of wider policies, such as health, noting that this would also allow partners to think creatively regarding funding opportunities. In regard to comments made regarding the membership of the Manchester Climate Change Board he stated that all partners acted to reduce their own emissions (MCCB members are responsible for 20% of the city’s total) and to influence behaviour change across the city. He said that he fully supported Members engaging with their communities to promote this activity and said he would be very keen to encourage them to do more by providing examples of community activities for Members to consider utilising or adapting. He further supported the recommendation proposed by the Chair that carbon reduction should be a standing item at ward coordination meetings.

Decision

The Committee note the report and endorse the recommendations that the Executive:

1. Endorse the draft Manchester Zero Carbon Framework as the city’s overarching approach to meeting its science-based climate change targets over the period 2020-38, as part of the wider Our Manchester policy framework;

2. Commit to work with partners to develop the final Framework and Action Plan for 2020-22 by March 2020, at the latest;

3. Commit to implement the Council’s actions for 2019/20, as set out in Appendix 2;

4. Commit to produce a detailed action plan for the Council’s climate change work during 2020-22, in terms of both direct, organisational emissions; and the influencing and enabling role that the Council can play through its planning, procurement, regulatory and other powers.

5. Commit to work with partners to secure the resources the city requires to commence full implementation of the Framework 2020-38 and Action Plan 2020-22, from April 2020.