Manchester now has a radical agenda that aims to cut carbon emissions by 1 million tonnes a year by 2020 and is making plans for the unavoidable local impacts of climate change. Manchester is one of the leading UK cities in the Government’s Low Carbon Cities Programme.

Councillor Neil Swannick said “ the Labour Council has just agreed its Principles for Tackling Climate Change, which will affect everyone in the city. We will have to work together if we are to cut our use of energy from fossil fuels - at work, in our homes and in the way we travel around. Manchester is one of the first cities to get off the mark and we can become a world leader in low carbon innovation and create new jobs in green industries and services”.

Manchester’s Labour Council is putting  £1 million to kick off a new Carbon Reduction Innovation and Investment Fund. This fund along with another new project, Manchester Offset, will aim to tap Manchester’s success to support projects such as the insulation of all homes across the city or the development of local renewable energy generation.

A 15-page booklet setting out Manchester’s Principles For Tackling Climate Change is available from the  City Council’s Green City Team on 234 1869 or at www.manchestergreencity.co.uk. A consultation leading to the publication of Manchester’s full Climate Strategy and Action Plan will take place over coming months.