Greater Manchester ranked among top cities tackling climate change

The action on climate change taken by Greater Manchester has seen the city-region ranked as one of the top in the world by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP).

CDP, an international charity, listed Greater Manchester among its ‘A List’ of 43 cities worldwide that are doing most to combat climate change. A total of 920 cities and regions reported their action for the study.

Greater Manchester’s target is to achieve carbon neutrality by 2038. The CDP analysis showed Greater Manchester was making progress towards its goals in adapting and mitigating the effects of climate change.

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham said:

We’ve been very clear in setting out our ambitions for decarbonising our economy here in Greater Manchester, and this latest analysis shows that our city-region is one of those leading the way globally in recognising and tackling the climate emergency.

Social and industrial innovation is part of our heritage as a place, and this holds true in how we’re addressing the significant challenges posed by climate change with our plans for clean public transport infrastructure, energy efficient buildings, renewable sources of energy, and sustainable business practices.”

Greater Manchester has already signed up to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy. This commitment between international authorities aims to reduce carbon emissions and increase resilience to climate change.  According to the CDP assessment, Greater Manchester ranks in the top 1% of 9,000 signatories worldwide for acting on its obligations, one of three in the UK.

The timing of the announcement coincides with the 25^th annual United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties, currently taking place in Madrid, Spain. The conference was first set up in the mid-1990s to negotiate the Kyoto Protocol, and more recently the Paris Agreement on climate change.