Beyond Belief

MCFly can exclusively reveal that Manchester City Council paid the London-based consultancy 'Beyond Green' a whopping ₤28,000 plus VAT and expenses for the 50-page Call to Action report, published last week. With VAT, this brings the total to ₤32,900 and we have no idea how much this 'eco-consultancy' has claimed for expenses- the Council's information did not include these figures. All in all this means that the council has paid- hopefully not from the ₤1 million Carbon Reduction Innovation and Investment Fund- over ₤650 per page.

The climate change report has been widely criticized for advocating a 'Green Airport' and has been described by local climate activists as 'very disappointing' and even 'ridiculous'. Considering the amount of money spent on it, 'ridiculous' fits the bill...

by Arwa Aburawa, MCFly editor.

Catalytic Action 1: World class regeneration

The Executive of Manchester City Council- in effect the “Cabinet” of the 96 seat elected body, has recently accepted a report called the “Call to Action.”

A London-based consultancy called “Beyond Green” wrote the report, which commits the Council to nine “catalytic actions.”

They are:

1. World-leading neighbourhood regeneration

2. Retrofitting Manchester's civic heritage

3. A business alliance for climate change

4. Low carbon energy infrastructure

5. Low carbon communities

6. A climate-ready Local Development Framework

7. The Manchester Prize

8. Greening the City: i-Trees

9. A green airport

We here at MCFly Towers think that these sorts of things go better with consultation. While we are waiting for the Council to announce just what it is going to do on this question, we will be posting the key bits of a “catalytic action” per day on the MCFly blog, with a brief analysis. We invite the people of Manchester (and heck, why not beyond) to comment on these. We will pass on your comments to the Council.

That's not to say the other parts of the report aren't worthy of comment too- it's just that we have to start somewhere, and here is as good a place as any...

1. World-leading neighbourhood regeneration

“With the help of partners, the City Council intends to identify trailblazing major regeneration neighbourhoods in which to develop internationally recognised exemplars for socially, economically and environmentally sustainable place-making.

"The sites are expected to be identified and announced in 2009. A comprehensive vision will be developed in conjunction with stakeholders and the community, following the selection of preferred development partners....”

“Behaviour change will be at the heart of the proposition. “Zero-carbon” building design can only account for a relativelysmall proportion of a person’s environmental impact; reducing total carbon footprint means encouraging people to adopt more sustainable behaviour in all aspects of their lives – such as how they move around the City and where they get their food from. ”

“The result will be sustainable communities in every sense, with a total carbon footprint among residents at least 80 per cent lower by 2025 than in 1990.”

COMMENTS:

If those goals are met, they'll be very laudable. 2025 is only 16 years away, so we'd best start NOW. However, if these sites are only going to be identified by later this year, when will the carbon savings actually start?
No mention of things like BREAM, etc. No mention of the recent Manchester University report on buildings and climate mitigation

There's no clear statement of what climate resilience mechanisms will be built in. Resilience is a word that appears several times in the Call to Action, but never seems to be defined....

And isn't this something the Council has been doing, or should have been doing ANYWAY. If this is number one catalytic action, a cynic could be forgiven for thinking that the Call to Action contained lots of bits cobbled together that were already being done, or about to be done anyway, and given a dash of green paint and called a climate change action plan. They'd be wrong of course, but they could be forgiven for thinking it...

Green New Deal for Manchester

Several members of Manchester Green Party have written a document entitled "A Green New Deal for Manchester." It was discussed at yesterday's "Convention of the Left".
It has not yet been discussed by Manchester Green Party so does NOT constitute official policy.
It is not the work of anyone involved in Manchester Climate Fortnightly.
It is hosted here on the MCFly website for informational purposes. Posting it is not an endorsement or a rejection of the document.

Here's a taster-

A Green New Deal for Manchester

The recession is already biting hard in Manchester. Every half-finished block means dozens of construction workers laid off, every closed shop means a few more retail workers on the dole. Less obvious are the layoffs in local factories and transport centres but the queues in employment centres are growing. Meanwhile even local councils are reducing their staff under the budget reductions still being forced on them by central government. And the worst is still to come.

The Labour government, which has been complicit in making Britain desperately exposed to this global crisis, is obsessed with pouring money into the banks to shore up their bad, possibly criminal, activities yet cannot take the obvious step of their full nationalisation. It talks at times of protecting those suffering most by investing directly in job protection but does little in the way of action. At the same time, it has managed to blast a hole in its ‘green’ responsibilities by allowing BAA to build a third runway at Heathrow, something which cannot possibly be justified even as an anti-recession measure as it cannot begin construction for years─if at all.

continues...

Interview with Dr Jeremy Carter, the "Green Guru"

In previous MCFly's we've reported on Manchester University's search for what we labelled - in a foaming fit of terrible tabloid alliteration as a "Green Guru." Dr Jeremy Carter was appointed to the position, and has kindly answered our questions, which we post here in their entirity.

He began with a preface:
"I should point out that the research fellowship to which I was 
appointed only accounts for 40% of my working time. The other 60% 
relates to an EU climate change adaptation project and a study for the 
Environment Agency on future challenges for the Northwest's water 
environment, with climate change nevertheless featuring prominently. 
My answers relate to the research fellowship, which is part of a 
initiative known as Eco Cities. I have combined answers to some your 
questions, and have focused on the ones that relate to the project and 
the issues to which it relates."

In a nutshell, what have you been asked to do?
The Eco Cities project aims to create a strategy to help Manchester adapt to climate change. Previous research undertaken at the University has demonstrated that climate change is likely to have a significant impact on the city. For example, temperatures may increase by up to 5ºC by the end of this century. Rainfall patterns are also set to change with winters becoming wetter (with up to 30% more rainfall) and summers drier (with up to 60% less rainfall). These changes will have a wide range of impacts such as greater risk of flooding and increased incidence of heat waves.

The project will aim to increase our understanding of how these changes will affect the city, and will also consider how we may best respond to increase our resilience and reduce our vulnerability to these impacts. Initially, we will be looking at past climate events and their impacts in the city-region to give an indication of the impacts which might be expected in the future, albeit with greater frequency and intensity. We will also be developing links with key individuals and organisations who have the potential to contribute to the adaptation strategy. Indeed, in order to enhance the utility of the adaptation strategy, we will need to work with key stakeholders who influence the development and use of land in the city.

How does this job fit in with the other work the University is doing on Climate Change?
Climate change adaptation is a key theme running through research being undertaken at the School of Environment and Development. Recently completed and ongoing projects address topics such as how urban environments can be better adapted to climate change and the urban heat island effect. The Eco Cities project will build on this work.

Are there "easy wins" that can be made on Climate Change adaptation in the North West? If so, what are they?
Green infrastructure (trees, gardens, green roofs, parks etc.) has a crucial role to play in adapting to climate change. For example, green spaces reduce the volume of run-off water reaching rivers lessening flood risk. With the threat of more heat waves, particularly in urban centres, the role that plants and trees can play in moderating temperatures is also vitally important. Increasing the amount of green infrastructure in our towns and cities, both around new and existing developments, would certainly help the adaptation cause.

Aside from climate change adaptation, green infrastructure provides a wide range of other benefits such as providing space for recreation (with knock-on health benefits), enhancing biodiversity and even increasing foot-fall into shops. It is important to begin to see green spaces as ‘critical infrastructure’ along the same lines as water, energy and transport infrastructure. They should be protected and enhanced wherever possible.

What's the best popular book you've read on Climate Change?

In the interest of picking something that everyone can access, I am actually going to choose a recent article written by James Hansen in which he sets out the climate change issues that Barack Obama is going to have face during his presidency.

http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/20081229_Obama_revised.pdf

What would you like to see campaigning/community/ voluntary groups doing on Climate Change in Manchester?
We need to collectively raise awareness of and argue for increased attention and action on climate change adaptation. Recent research from the Tyndall Centre (reported in the Guardian at http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/dec/09/poznan-copenhagen-global-warming-targets-climate-change) highlights that keeping temperatures to less than 2ºC above pre-industrial levels is going to be a difficult task indeed. Lack of action to reduce emissions levels is committing us to an increase in frequency and intensity of impacts related to climate change such as floods, droughts and heat waves. We need to take steps to adapt to these impacts.

Save Rose Cottage information

If you are interested in more information about "Rose Cottage", the subject of a recent post, then the following web site is worth visiting
http://campaigns.libdems.org.uk/RoseCottage

"Rose Cottage, situated on the historic "Hasty Lane" on the edge of Manchester
Airport, is a stunning grade II listed 17th Century dwelling, beautifully maintained
by the current tenants, a family of three.
The Airport plans to demolish Rose Cottage, and three other tenanted properties, so
that they can double air freight capacity by building two giant air freight cargo
sheds.
English Heritage, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings, Greater
Manchester Archaeological Unit, the Council for British Archaeology all oppose the
plans.
The Liberal Democrats, the Green Party and Friends of the Earth have joined forces
with local residents who are campaigning to Save Rose Cottage."

Sadness piling up, and more useless MEN

Sadness about the Heathrow decision.

I mean, I knew the government would do it.

The 2003 White Paper was basically written by the aviation industry and sent over to the Department for Transport for mastheading and distribution. “Freedom to Fly” was a beautiful framing device, making it a question of liberty versus restriction, rather than indulgence versus survival.

And I intellectually knew most unions would be on board. After all, I suggested the theme for this cartoon by the absurdly prolific and sharp Marc Roberts.

But before reading my FT, I read my Morning Star, and it had a piece on...

"Airport workers addressed MPs at Westminster yesterday to "set the record straight" about Heathrow expansion. Workers from Heathrow and other British airports took the case for a third runwayto Parliament, concerned that the latest governmetn delay on approvignt he scheme was putting jobs and development at risk."

Workers of the World, Unite, you have nothing to lose but a habitable planet for your children.

And I am sad that the notion of a Just Transition hasn't gotten more traction, but I'm not surprised given the general cackhandedness and downright weirdness of many climate activists.

And I am sad to think that the Campaign against Climate Change Trades Union thing is wasting its breath.

And I am sad that Heathrow wasn't stopped before it got this far because now there the heroic eco-warriors are going to have to fight on at least three fronts- Airports, Coal and Copenhagen.

And I am sad to think that Manchester is so ill-served by the Manchester Evening News.

Yesterday the Council announced its climate plans. Today the MEN's front page splash was... wait for it...

“Drunk in charge of a stolen Asda scooter! Woman is banned from driving after trying to travel 10 miles home on a 2.4mph mobility buggy."

I. Shit. You. Not.

Nothing I could see in my paper edition on the climate plans (such as they are.) but on page 16 we have “Light fading fast in search for last 100-watt bulbs.”

I just checked their website, which I refuse to link to on principle.

They haven't even reported the Council's plans. And they call themselves a newspaper? They're having a bloody laugh.

What is wrong with this bloody species?? Anyone?

Rose Cottage decision deferred; here's why

The below was sent to Mancheste Climate Fortnightly.
Rose Cottage is a very old building that Manchester Airports 
Group would like to demolish to make way for a big warehouse.
There was supposed to be a decision made at a Council meeting tonight (15/1/09),
but now isn't.


The decision about Rose Cottage has been delayed for the following reason.
The information English Heritage (EH) wanted from the Airport's agents, White Young Green (WYG),
has not been sent over.
WYG were supposed to supply EH with either plans that incorporate Rose Cottage within the
development (which they have resisted) OR information over WHY they cannot incorporate Rose
Cottage within the development.

It's very important that WYG gets this right due to PPG15 - the most important bits being:

     ...The Secretaries of State would not expect listed building consent to be granted for demolition
unless the authority is satisfied that real efforts have been made without success to continue the present
use or to find compatible alternative uses for the building...
   ...There may very exceptionally be cases where the proposed works would bring substantial benefits
for the community which have to be weighed against the arguments in favour of preservation. Even here,
it will often be feasible to incorporate listed buildings within new development, and this option should be
carefully considered: the challenge presented by retaining listed buildings can be a stimulus to imaginative
new design to accommodate them...

What this delay means

Manchester Airport Group (MAG), are NOT sympathetic to the EH's suggested compromise, and
EH left the recent meeting with MAG with the feeling they would get reasons why the compromise
could not be reached. They said if that's the case, they would continue to oppose the plans.

If WYG are writing up the reasons why they can't compromise, then they have to make sure they
are very good reasons, as stated above: "unless the authority is satisfied that real efforts have been
made without success to continue the present use or to find compatible alternative uses for the building... "

And those are the key words: "REAL EFFORTS". If WYG cannot demonstrate that they have put
in enough "REAL EFFORT" to incorporate, and we can demonstrate this at the hearing, then under
PPG15 they should (in theory) refuse.

If on the other hand, this delay is because WYG can't find feasible reasons why they can't incorporate
Rose Cottage into the design, then they may be re-designing the whole damn thing, and this is why it's
delayed. If this is the case then it may be more than a few weeks delayed as it would require a substantial
effort to re-draw the plans and possibly re-consult the statutory bodies (Police, GMPTE, etc).