GMCA chief warns city-region’s net-zero target will be difficult to achieve

In an interview with Local Government Chronicle, Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) Chief Executive, Eamonn Boylan, has warned of the challenge of meeting the city-region’s net-zero target.

Greater Manchester set an ambitious target of reaching net-zero carbon emissions by 2038 when it declared a climate emergency in 2019, seeking to eliminate emissions 12 years ahead of the national target set by the then-Prime Minister, Theresa May. While other local authorities have set more ambitious targets, the 2038 date includes all emissions in the city-region, including domestic and private commercial CO2 output, not solely those related to local authority activity.

While Greater Manchester’s net-zero target was calculated in partnership with the Tyndall Centre to deliver an achievable date grounded in science, Mr Boylan revealed to Local Government Chronicle (LGC) that it represented a ‘very, very significant challenge’ for the city-region.

Eamonn Boylan also revealed that over climate action were being discussed in ongoing devolution talks with government: Greater Manchester was named as one of the areas to be given additional, wide-reaching powers through devolution plans announced in the Levelling Up White Paper.

He confirmed GMCA’s strategy on decarbonisation was to explore both short and longer-term measures to reduce CO2 emissions, with net-zero electricity supply as one of the most important contributions to achieving carbon neutrality, along with the uptake of electric vehicles being accelerated by the Clean Air Zone.

Short term measures to reduce emissions include funding and support for energy efficiency measures, such as insulation and LED lighting, as well as small-scale green energy schemes, such as solar power and heat pumps on new housing and commercial developments.

LGC’s full interview with GMCA Chief Executive, Eamonn Boylan, is available here.