City Council's call to action: eyewitness report

by MCFly editor Arwa Aburawa

The Council Executive had its monthly meeting this morning. Climate Change was one of the topics under discussion. Manchester Climate Fortnightly has previously reported on the Council's summary of the 'Call to Action'. Rather than rush to judgement, we were waiting for the nitty-gritty details and targets in the main report. Sadly we are going to be waiting a while longer. A spokesperson stated that the “Council will work with its partners and other organisations to draw up a detailed action plan to be approved later in the year...”

From the outset there were two main issue which we felt needed to be dealt with: the unspent 1 million Carbon Reduction and Innovation Fund (a story we broke in September 2008) and the so-called 'Green Airport'. Around 30 minutes were spent on discussing the report and Richard Cowell, the Executive Member for the Environment, summed up his position by stating that

“Climate change is the single biggest challenge facing the the world. It demands an international response, but the action we take in Manchester will determine whether the shift to a low-carbon society creates new opportunities for Mancunian families and businesses.”

Although this 'Call to Action' was labelled as a climate change strategy, it seems pretty clear that the council are following a strict business growth agenda. There was lots of talk of 'opportunities with economic and business advantages' and 'driving the economy forward'.

A Green Airport?

Simon Ashley, leader of the Liberal Democrats, was quick to point out that the 'Call to Action' and Manchester's climate change strategy couldn't be taken seriously with what he called a “cop-out” with regards to the airport. He went to say that although he recognised that the airport was a great economic driver, it was also a great polluter and this needs to be reconsidered. Ashley also remarked that the excuse that Manchester council couldn't take unilateral action should be dismissed and that the entire issue needs to be tackled again as “you can't give the airport a pass.”

[Ashley is part of the Advisory Panel of fifteen (six Labour and nine Liberal Democracts) which can raise issues and ask questions at Executive meetings but can't vote on the final decision.]

The chair, Sir Richard Leese, who seems recovered from his run-in with car thieves yesterday, replied that they can't legally constrain the Airport and that if the planes didn't fly out from Manchester then it would probably be from somewhere else, causing more pollution. Following this logic, extending the airport is the ONLY sensible way to stop more CO2 emissions. At a national level, it seems the Labour Government agrees with him, since all the indications at time of writing are that a third runway will be approved for Heathrow.

All said and done, the Executive stuck by their plans for a 'Green Airport' which involves the continued support for the Airport's growth whilst helping it to achieve its aim of becoming carbon neutral reduction in site energy use and vehicle fuel.

Carbon Reduction and Innovation Fund 1 Million
Again, the issue over why no money has been spent from the Carbon Reduction and Innovation Fund over the last year and a half was raised by the Advisory Panel who stated that there was a need to “start delivering actual programmes”. The response was that the plans were in the full report which was waiting for approval, the chair nevertheless agreed that it was unacceptable.

With regards to this fund the reports says:

“The City Council intends to deploy resources from (sic) Fund to help explore options for delivering major public-private investment in energy efficiency low carbon energy infrastructure, including a possible Manchester ESCO (Energy Service Company). It is also envisaged that funding will also be made available to support a proposed Low Carbon Communities pilot and a range of other activities that demonstrate different approaches to realising the benefits of shifting to low carbon.”

The final troubling issue was the lack of clear strategy for measuring outcomes. The full report which analysed the strategies, exhaustively judged their indirect/direct impacts as 'small', 'none', 'significant' and even 'unquantifiable'. A council spokesperson noted that

"These actions will not of themselves achieve deep cuts in carbon, but they will give rise to the mainstream understanding, partnerships, vision and capacity across the city to hit the City’s target of a reduction of in excess of a million tonnes while securing economic and other advantage, and to be ahead of the curve.”

Here's the full report:

An unofficial hyper-linked version of the Executive Summary and a 2-page 'Bluffers guide' which decodes the report can be seen here: http://www.manchesterclimateforum.org.uk/calltoaction.html

For background and analysis see MCFly 15: http://www.manchesterclimatefortnightly.info/mcfy015.pdf

City Council's Call to Action approved

The Executive of Manchester City Council met this morning.

They have approved the "Call to Action" document.

The Executive Summary was released last week, and is the lead story in MCFly 15.

The full report of the "Call to Action" can be downloaded here

http://www.manchester.gov.uk/site/scripts/download_info.php?downloadID=2929&fileID=9003

Full description and analysis will follow.

UPDATE: There are reportedly some problems are with downloading, according to the Council. You need to persevere!

Northern Climate Rush: brief report

On Monday 12th January "picnics" were held in the Departure Lounges of both Heathrow and Manchester Airports. This it to mark the Government's imminent announcement on a Third Runway at Heathrow, and airport expansion generally. (It is widely expected that the Government will approve the runway. Business and Trades Unions want it. Environmentalists and most locals don't.)

The event had been announced quite sometime ago, and was not a "flashmob" or unannounced action like the October 2007 "arm-tube" blockage of a domestic departures lounge by a group of Manchester Climate Action/Plane Stupid activists.

In Manchester there were approximately 40 people sitting down (the BBC said 50, but they're not noted for their focus on facts when it comes to climate change), there were at least 70 officers of Her Majesty's Greater Manchester Constabulary, kindly facilitating the protest. There were also a fair sprinkly of Manchester Airport management in attendance. There were picnic hampers, dancing and general merriment.

The event was hosted in the most out-of-the-way part of the Departure Lounge that could be found, away from curious travellers' eyes. Entry was by ticket only- the GMP had kindly volunteered to act as door staff, and took an extraordinary number of photos as mementos.

It lasted an hour or so, with the advertised string quartet making a welcome appearance.

There was one arrest. MCFly's reporter was not there to witness that, but is reliably informed that the individual in question had to make very very strenuous efforts in order to be detained.

A longer report/analysis on this event will follow.

MCFly 015: Green Guru, Transition Meeting, Green Party

Green Guru up for GRaBS

Green Guru Dr Jeremy Carter has been appointed to provide academic leadership in the latest European initiative, titled Green and Blue Space Adaptation or GRaBS, which will help ten cities adapt to the effects of climate change.

The project will raise awareness amongst the local and regional authorities about which neighbourhoods are at risk, the main dangers they face and ways to respond to them. Carter remarked that “The differences between those cities which choose to adapt and those who do not will be stark.”

[Dr Carter has kindly done an email interview with MCFly, which will be posted very soon.]

A Transition's Gonna Come?
The Transition Movement has sprung up to equip communities to tackle the twin problems of peak oil and climate change. On Weds Jan 21 SERA is hosting a meeting at the Town Hall about a possible "Transition City Manchester" project. A transition project for Hulme recently folded. See also www.transitiontowns.org, and a critique of the concept here: www.trapese.org

Greens want Mancunian Green New Deal
The Green Party has launched its campaign for the West Didsbury by-election with a call for a "Green New Deal" to tackle the major issues of climate change and recession. Proposals include supporting cheap, regular public transport, improved parking within the area as well as protecting local public space such as Marie Louise Gardens.

Housing has also been highlighted as an important issue and Greens want the Council to purchase private houses which stand empty to help tackle the 30,000 waiting list for social housing. Geoff Evans, the Green Party candidate, remarked that “we are now missing a golden opportunity to fight recession by creating jobs, build a 1st class public transport system and help the fight against climate change.” See www.manchestergreenparty.org.uk

MCFly 015: City Council's "Call to Action"

On Wednesday 14 January Manchester City Council will discuss its next steps in dealing with Climate Change. A report entitled “A Call to Action” is expected to be approved by the Executive (the 10 member group that is in effect the 'Cabinet'). The report was prepared by the environmental consultancy “Beyond Green”. Council officers would not disclose how much Beyond Green has been paid to produce the document.
The report, the Executive Summary of which can be seen here aims to “set out a new way of thinking” by focussing on “the advantages Manchester could realise through early, decisive action to tackle and adapt to climate change and shift to a low carbon economy.” It proposes "a programme of immediate action to demonstrate across different facets of city life” on “how we can cut our carbon footprint and at the same time sustain and increase prosperity and quality of life for Manchester residents.”

Background: In February 2008, Manchester City Council approved its "Climate Change Principles" With a headline of "a million tonnes a year less carbon dioxide by 2020", it laid out 17 principles under which it would act and three areas in which savings would be made. The Principles Document also promised a Climate Strategy would be released in 2008, and there would be six months of consultation on it.
This, as even casual observers will be aware, simply did not happen. No announcement was made, but following questioning, the Council did admit this, as reported in MCFly 3. July 21 2008. Since that document's release, AGMA has released the Mini-Stern (MCFly 2 and 3). Central Government has passed the Climate Change Act and created the Department for Energy and Climate Change. Internationally, climate negotiations towards a “new Kyoto” have moved at the pace of a particularly arthritic snail.

Analysis: Until the complete report is released, we must “wait and see.” Making snap judgements on the basis of an Executive Summary would be foolish. But, rushing in where angels fear to tread, MCFly notes that; the Principles Document was heavy on numbers and targets while the Call to Action is light, there is no mention of cycling, or food production. Crucially, the Principles Document promised 6 months of consultation, whereas this envisages “awareness raising and engagement,” a very different beast....
Ultimately, the Council will be judged not on its words, but its actions, in driving down Manchester's carbon emissions and preparing sensibly for the dramatic changes that will unfold over the coming decades.

Timetable of Council plans
Jan 2009: Call to Action published
Jan-Mar 2009: Detailed action planning
Spring-Summer 2009:

• Community awareness raising and engagement through the “Proud Of” campaign.
• Engagement through implementation of the proposed ‘catalytic’ actions

Late 2009: Final Manchester climate change action plan published

More information: MCFly will blog about this on Wednesday 14th, after the Executive Meeting. We will link through to the main report, and get opinions and analysis from groups and individuals.
Cllr Richard Cowell will be speaking at the “Climate Change: Global and Local” event on Tuesday 10 February at the Friends Meeting House .

The City Council's "Call to Action" on Climate Change

Context
In February 2008, Manchester City Council approved its "Climate Change Principles." With a headline of "a million tonnes a year less carbon dioxide by 2020", it laid out 17 principles under which it would act and three areas in which savings would be made.

The Principles Document also promised a Climate Strategy would be released in 2008, and there would be six months of consultation on it.

This, as even casual observers will be aware, simply did not happen. No announcement was made, but following questioning, the Council did admit this, as reported in Manchester Climate Fortnightly no 3, July 21st 2008

Now, the Council Executive, made up of 10 members (all Labour Party) out of the full council of 96 councillors, will meet on Wednesday January 14th. There are other items on the agenda, of course, but it is being asked to approve a "Call to Action." on climate change. The 13 page executive summary of the report has been released, and can be downloaded here.

MCFly will release a more detailed report of this document tomorrow, but for now the following snippets from the document will suffice.
They are, in order of appearance (drum roll please)
1) the recommendations to the council,
2) the aims of the full report,
3) the proposed timetable for action in 2009
and- put last to keep you reading through to the end-
4)the Inevitable Controversial Bit About The Airport.

1) Members of the Executive are being asked to

1. Approve the Climate Change Call to Action and the implementation of the ‘catalytic actions’ set out in this report.

2. Support the engagement of residents, businesses and stakeholder organisations in wide ranging debates and actions to create a framework and level of support for the Climate Change Action Plan.

3. Ask Officers to report on this Action Plan later in 2009, which will incorporate a full route-map to achieving a reduction in Manchester’s carbon emissions of over one million tonnes a year by 2020.

4. Approve the establishment of an Environmental Strategy Programme Board chaired by the Chief Executive to oversee the work programmes and the development of a clear funding strategy.

2) It is claimed that the full report, (which will be available on Wednesday January 14th),

Sets out a new way of thinking, grounded in Manchester’s Community Strategy, which focuses on the advantages Manchester could realise through early, decisive action to tackle and adapt to climate change and shift to a low carbon economy;

Describes the role of the City of Manchester in a global, national and city- regional context in leading the response to climate change and the specific areas of work Manchester needs to focus on to make early, telling inroads into the city’s carbon footprint; and

Proposes a programme of immediate action to demonstrate across different facets of city life how we can cut our carbon footprint and at the same time sustain and increase prosperity and quality of life for Manchester residents.

3) The timetable envisaged is as follows-

Jan 2009: This Call to Action published
Jan-Mar 2009: Detailed action planning
Spring-Summer 2009:

• Community awareness raising and engagement through the “Proud Of” campaign
• Engagement through implementation of the proposed ‘catalytic’ actions

Late 2009: Final Manchester climate change action plan published

4) And finally for now, that Bit About the Airport

(page 11)
9. A green Airport.
Manchester Airport is one of the principal components of economic growth in Manchester. The City Council’s agrees that global rates of air traffic growth are unsustainable in the long term, but believes that it is not a realistic option for individual airports or cities to suppress their growth unilaterally ahead of international agreements that lead to orderly reductions in overall emissions. Manchester Airport has produced an Environment Plan as part of its Master Plan to 2030 and committed to becoming carbon neutral in its site energy use and ground vehicle operations. The City Council will fully support the Airport to achieve its aims.


Watch this space

Email Bulletin 1

Dear all,

welcome to the 1^st “in-between” email bulletin of Manchester Climate Fortnightly (MCFly).

MCFly will be published Sundays Jan 11, Jan 25, Feb 8, Feb 22, March 1, 15, 29 and April 12 , when it will stop publishing unless more volunteers come forward.

These email in-between bulletins will be short and to the point

a) Local news (esp council and campaigning group stuff, but also business)
b) Upcoming local events (climate related and in the next week only)
c) upcoming national/international news stories of interest/importance
d) "other stuff" (competitions, future events of note etc)

Please do forward these to whoever you think wants them.

a) Local news

Manchester City Council intends to release its Climate Strategy this Wednesday, 7^th January. The strategy will be discussed at a Council Executive meeting on January 14^th. More information via www.manchesterclimatefortnightly.blogspot.com as soon as possible.

Stop Expansion at Manchester Airport has started a monthly bulletin.

info@stopmanchesterairport.org.uk
www.stopmanchesterairport.org.uk

b) Upcoming local events

Monday Jan 12 at 7pm 
Northern Climate Rush "Obedient women rarely make history."
Manchester Airport Terminal 3 Departure Lounge
northernclimaterush@googlemail.com 

Monday Jan 12 at 7.15pm
Campaign against Climate Change meeting, Friends Meeting House, Mount St
www.gmcacc.org

c) upcoming national/international news stories of interest/importance
Imminent decision on Heathrow Third Runway

Both Labour Government and Conservatives have made statements about green technology and job creation.

Sunday 11^th American Meteorological Society annual meeting

d) "other stuff"
Essay contest “What Do We DO Now” with first prize £30.  
600 word limit to answer: “What are the current problems/future opportunities for Climate Campaigners in Greater Manchester”
www.manchesterclimateforum.org.uk/whatdowedonow.html

January 16, 2009 
FutureEthics conference:  “A World Without Us? Imagining the End of the Human” stefan.skrimshire@manchester.ac.uk