UK Mayors have urged the government to give them the tools to deliver net zero, following clean energy Manchester summit.
On Tuesday and Wednesday of this week, eight mayors met in Manchester’s own Science and Industry Museum. The summit focused on the importance of net-zero living, and how we can prepare businesses for this drastic change.
This yearly event is a great undertaking in challenging the UK on how to be progressing net-zero living and challenging businesses that mindsets may be against converting.
This responsibility will be achieved through panels focusing on topics such as Green Investments in Sustainable Cities, including insight from panellists such as Carla Detrieux- Director of Business Development at Volta Trucks- and Tunde Olaoye- Sector Director of Smart Energy Systems at SSE Energy Solutions.
Other panels included are The Power of Retrofitting, EV UK and Maximising Renewable Technology at a Local Level, amongst others.
Greater Manchester green spaces fund
The £2.6 million scheme supports community-led projects that increase the amount and quality of accessible, nature-rich green space in the region, particularly in the areas where people need it most. It gives small grants to communities to improve local green spaces or create new ones.
Projects should improve accessible spaces through physical improvements to make them better places for nature and people. These projects could take place in parks, community gardens, streets, schools, housing estates, canals/streams/rivers, and existing nature reserves.
There are two types of grants available: grants up to £10,000 and grants between £10,000 and £40,000.
Cllr Neil Emmott, Lead for Green City Region and Waste & Recycling, said: “Improving and maintaining local green spaces can go such a long way in not only improving air quality and carbon levels, but it’s also great for social and mental wellbeing. Through our Green Spaces Fund, people across the whole of our region can now apply for grants to improve or create new green spaces in their area.
Green initiatives
SSE, the official partner of the Summit and the UK and Ireland’s clean energy advocate, is already ramping up investment by commissioning more offshore wind capacity. The company, which holds the world’s largest wind farm- at Dogger Bank- has plans to also upgrade the three electrical networks, which they own and operate within the UK.
Alongside promoting their positive impact within the movement, SSE is also promoting collaboration. The company believes by working together, business and local authorities will meet the goal of decarbonisation whilst contributing to national targets.
Decarbonisation targets are a whole-system approach and SSE explains that it is not enough to look at heating, transport, and generating power in isolation- what is needed are events like the Summit, that allow individuals of all backgrounds- CEOs, graduates, climate activists- the opportunity to talk about what is next.
SSE believes moving essentials such as heating from gas to electric is the first step but furthering our understanding of what comes after that change is as important.
Move away from fossil fuels
The University of Manchester, in a recent publication, has updated its policy and stance on responsible investment and has confirmed that it has ended investments in companies dealing in coal, oil, and gas in a response to the climate crisis.
The policy states: “Almost complete (99%) disinvestment in fossil fuel extraction companies, and 30%reduction in weighted average carbon intensity (amount of electricity produced per KW hour of electricity consumed) in the public equity allocation in the investment portfolio by 2022.
Reduction in weighted average carbon intensity of the remainder of the public equity allocation in the investment portfolio to a net zero target by 2038 or earlier.”
The positive effect of these recent changes will be seen shortly and complement the workings of The Decarbonisation Summit. With the University cutting ties with industry leaders dealing in coal, oil, and gas.
Impact on property
For investors, these changes won’t affect business in the property market. However, it provides investors with the chance to look forward to upcoming properties and realise the potential of investing in green-living properties. These initiatives will only improve the desirability of Manchester as an up-and-coming place to live. We hope that this will have a long-term positive impact on Manchester property in the years to come.