Projects in Stockport to address climate change have featured prominently in discussions at the city-region’s GM Green Summit, held on 2nd October at Lowry Theatre.
Among the work being delivered in Stockport to take action against climate change include Stockport Council’s Schools Climate Assembly initiative, solar PV installation on public buildings, and a winning bid for funding for exploring climate adaptation and resilience to protect communities from the effects of future climate change.
During the opening session the summit, Ace and Blair, two students from Reddish Vale High School, championed work to address period product waste and period inequality, an initiative brought by the two students to to Stockport Council through the Schools Climate Assembly project. After winning the youth debate, the students worked with the council to shape how grants and training were rolled out to education settings and enabling more than 3,000 students to benefit in the first year and potentially avoiding 33 million items of plastic waste.
Stockport’s second feature shone a light on eight innovative solar panel projects that have been delivered as part of Unlocking Clean Energy in Greater Manchester, which is supported by the European Regional Development Fund. Solar panels have been installed at eight sites, including four schools, two leisure centres operated by Life Leisure, a multi-storey car park at Stockport Exchange, and Totally Local Company’s Bredbury depot, Endeavour House.
The largest scheme will see 222,100 kWh of renewable energy generated for the leisure centre annually, which is enough to supply the equivalent of 75 average household’s electricity, according to OfGen figures. The fours schools will also collectively save around £100,000 per year in energy bills.
The final feature highlighted Stockport’s work to become climate resilient and announced a successful bid for $125,000 funding via the GM R4C Programme, sponsored by Zurich’s charitable body, for adaptation planning and engagement. Edgeley will be the focus of this work due to its proximity to the MDC development along with accompanying opportunities for adapting to climate change focussing on surface flooding and urban heat effect.
Cllr Mark Roberts (pictured), Stockport Council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and the Environment, said:
“These projects are incredibly important for our climate action now plan and are a great example of how climate action can pay dividends now and in the future.
“Young people really understand the need for dealing with climate change and the opportunity to show them the difference a small change to a building at their schools and leisure sites can make is really important.
“As a council, it is imperative that we show residents that we are doing what we can – and our communities, schools and our estate are a great example of where we are stepping up to the mark and striving to get decarbonisation efforts really progressing.
“We’re also really pleased to have won the opportunity to take part in this exciting GM R4C program in Edgeley and to work with local residents to understand how Stockport communities can plan for future climate change in a just, fair and inclusive way as we learn to cope with the effects of already baked in climate change and the pressures that it places on local people.”
In addition, the attendees at the Green Summit overwhelmingly backed a call by Stockport Council for the Metrolink to come to Stockport.
Cllr Roberts added:
“It’s clear from talking to people here at the summit today that we need the tram to come to Stockport. We’ve been calling for this for years, so it’s about time something happened.
“Having a decent public transport infrastructure is key to driving down greenhouse gas emissions, and if we ever stand a chance of limiting global warming, this kind of infrastructure needs to happen.”
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