Manchester
Climate Action Plan

Nationally, the UK has a legally binding target to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net-zero by 2050. Many local councils have more ambitious targets. There are nearly 400 principal councils across the country: the majority have a net-zero target of 2030. Further information from the Council.

Local net-zero target date

2050

Plan published

September 2021

Plan scope

Plan covers entire local area

Climate emergency declared

July 2019

Working together

We use data on Climate Action Plans fromĀ data.climateemergency.uk

If you have more recent Climate Action Plan information for this area, please contact mySociety atĀ [email protected]

CO2 emissions

It's hard to visualise CO2 emissions. The data talks about 'tonnes of CO2' - but what does a tonne of gas look like? Well, imagine a typical large hot air balloon (almost 3,000 cubic metres in volume). One tonne of CO2 would fill one of these hot air balloons.

Additional local carbon emissions

Carbon emissions embedded in the imported goods we consume locally are typically not counted. However, these goods are produced and then transported here because of our consumer demands. Imported emissions are so big they should not be hidden*.

* Note: Imported emissions are estimated based on the Total UK Goods & Services Greenhouse Gases imported emissions (Defra UK's Carbon Footprint 2016: 353mt CO2 eq) pro-rated based on Local Authority population size and assumed equal per capita consumption of imported goods and services across all Local Authorities.

CO2 emissions in total

1,684,994 tonnes

People in the local area

555,741

CO2 per person per year

3.0 tonnes

Additional local carbon emissions

2,910,756 tonnes

Source: BEIS Local Authority territorial CO2 emissions within the scope of influence of Local Authorities (2020).

Local carbon emissions by sector

In getting to net zero as quickly as possible, we need to look at how we do things differently in every sector.

(000t)

2018
2019
2020

High-impact, low-carbon initiatives

Total published on Carbon Copy across the UK: 1044 See all Initiatives

There are some amazing collaborations between local councils, communities and companies. Some examples in/around Manchester:

GM Business Green Scene

Helping businesspersons (in GM) collaborate with others motivated by the green transition.

Bolton
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Greater fairness
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Built Environment
  • Circular Economy

The Bee Network

Creating a comprehensive, fully joined up city cycling and walking network.

Manchester
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Health & wellbeing
  • Transport

GMCA Smart Energy Plan

Boosting jobs, improving housing and lowering emissions through an integrated Smart Energy Plan.

Bolton
  • Carbon emissions
  • Greater fairness
  • Built Environment
  • Energy

Metrolink Emission-Free Light Rail System

Providing Greater Manchester an efficient and environmentally-friendly way to travel city region.

Manchester
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Greater fairness
  • Transport
  • Built Environment
  • Energy

Go Neutral Call-Off Framework

Decarbonising our city region and delivering social value and inclusive growth.

Bolton
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Built Environment
  • Circular Economy

Carbon Neutral Greater Manchester Public Sector Estate

Providing GM's public sector with a decarbonisation plan and toolkit to target carbon neutral 2038.

Bolton
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Built Environment
  • Energy

RecycleIT - Sustainability Project

Providing an end-to-end solution for redundant IT equipment.

Burnley
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Waste
  • Circular Economy
  • Biodiversity & Nature
  • Finance

Kiht Collective

Reducing carbon with Danielle King from Kiht Collective on the Zero Carbon Tour.

Manchester
  • Carbon emissions
  • Health & wellbeing
  • Waste
  • Circular Economy
  • Biodiversity & Nature

Imperfect Pointes

Reducing carbon with Helen Banks from Imperfect Pointes on the Zero Carbon Tour.

Manchester
  • Carbon emissions
  • Waste
  • Circular Economy

Studio 91 Media

Reducing carbon with Ben Horrigan from Studio 91 Media on the Zero Carbon Tour.

Manchester
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Transport

Greater Manchester Local Energy Market

Designing a local area energy market which is informed and validated for the benefit of consumers.

Bolton
  • Carbon emissions
  • Excessive consumption
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Transport

HyNet North West & North Wales

Removing and replacing fossil fuels with low carbon hydrogen to fuel industry, transport and homes.

Cheshire West and Chester
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Energy
  • Built Environment
  • Transport

Renew Hub

Bringing reuse on an industrial scale to Greater Manchester, leading towards a circular economy.

Manchester
  • Carbon emissions
  • Excessive consumption
  • Waste
  • Circular Economy
  • Built Environment

Graphene Concrete

Pioneering a new CO2-busting material to make building greener and cheaper.

Manchester
  • Carbon emissions
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Built Environment
  • Transport

Solar Car Ports

Supporting the decarbonisation of the home of British Cycling.

Manchester
  • Carbon emissions
  • Energy
  • Built Environment

Homes As Energy Systems

Demonstrating how homes can play a role in managing a low-carbon electricity grid in Manchester.

Manchester
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Greater fairness
  • Energy
  • Built Environment
  • Finance

Manchester Mobile Museum

Delivering learning programmes to Manchester schools in an electric van.

Manchester
  • Air pollution
  • Carbon emissions
  • Transport

People Powered Retrofit

Helping householders retrofit their homes to high environmental standards.

Manchester
  • Carbon emissions
  • Health & wellbeing
  • Built Environment
  • Energy

Greening Stevenson Square

Planting trees and making green roofs to revive, cool and protect urban areas.

Manchester
  • Biodiversity loss
  • Carbon emissions
  • Flooding & drought
  • Biodiversity & Nature
  • Built Environment

Energyworks

Implementing door-to-door energy efficiency measures designed to reduce local fuel poverty.

Manchester
  • Carbon emissions
  • Greater fairness
  • Health & wellbeing
  • Energy
  • Built Environment