Ecocities launch

Ecocities launch

Very much a game of two halves

First half we have speeches from

Professor Alan Gilbert, President of the University of Manchester

After a few not-so-gentle digs at Thomas Friedman's “The World is Flat”, Prof Gilbert warmed (ho ho) to his theme – that it would be dynamic city regions that drive growth and have a competitive advantage in the 21st century. He seemed quite taken with the work of Richard Florida (on where the nimble creative classes want to live) and argued that sustainable cities would have to happen not merely because of regulation but also to Attract and Keep the Talent.

He pointed out that knowing it's vital is one thing, doing it is another, that there'd be intense competition from other cities

So the University with it's 2015 role was looking at

• a scale/quality of research that as world class, but also one that shaped the agenda
• not just theoretical research but practical stuff, that made a difference.

He extolled existing international partnerships, for example with Harvard and also US, Singapore, Bangladesh and Japan.

He closed with “Bruntwood and Manchester and the Universities” would succeed or fail together.

Dr Michael Oglesby, Chairman of Bruntwood

He opened by arguing that battle for the recognition of a problem was won, but the question of what to DO was not (question of always wanting someone else to pay for it!)

Observed it is easy to sit back and wait for regulation and then complain about it, but that this is too important an issue to leave to Westminster.

No point in asking developing world to change if WE don't act.

How to achieve? Strong base, partnerhsip keey. Manchester University one of top 4 in UK, Bruntwood recognised as one of the best, very good customer relationships. Over 2000 customers

Too much focus thus far on the new. Retrofitting is where it is at.

Need clear guidelines. Unis to come up with what would really make a differnece, Bruntwood to look at practialities, Council to decide what's feasible.

There are going to be recommendations we don't like, unpalatable. Have to take these on board. If not, fail, with serous consequences.

Impacts from temperature increase, 60% increase in rainfall, leading to flooding because we've paved over so much. Some problems will not be soluable, Large areas we will not be able to live in in the future.

Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council

Birthplace of the Industrial Revolution [Oh, if I had a quid for everytime I have heard THAT lately]
Mcr wants to be part of solution
Cities critical (over 75% of energy, 80% of greenhouse gases)
Mentions Call to Action [but not, naturally, Call to Real Action!]
Increased public understanding.
Extols the “surprising range” of partners writing the Action Plan
Once again talks about the targets as being a minimum: “At least,” he is at pains to emphasise

Then the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding and a chance to hoover up more food. Your MCFly reporter got three feeds out of the Council last Thursday Truly, “snouts in the trough.”

So, then we had an “Overview of the Eco-cities initiative” by Professor Simon Guy and then a very detailed presentation on “Climate Change Impacts in the Manchester city region” by Dr John Handley, before Dr Jeremy Carter led off the workshop component.

This involved having us in groups of 8 or fewer, with a facilitator, getting us to look at “Challenges” and then “Opportunities.” Lots and lots of ideas, which the Eco Cities crew are going to collate and send out.

As with the speeches, the gender balance appalling. MCFly did a head count. There were 53 participants, of whom 14 were women. Of all the people, only one could be classed as Black or Ethnic Minority. Want to be clear though- this is NOT down to any conscious action or oversight on the part of the Ecocities crew. 3 to 1 seems to be the male/female ratio in any climate event MCFly goes to, with anything labelled “Transport” significantly worse. What is to be done?

They think it's not all over. It is soon.

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.

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