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UK

17 July 2020
Manchester tram

Greater Manchester Combined Authority takes convenor role for 2038 target

Greater Manchester Combined Authority declared a climate emergency in July 2019, and has set a carbon neutrality target of 2038.

Its approach is to act as a convenor, bringing together not just the 10 local councils, but also the three largest universities, business community, wider public sector including health, social care, police and fire, and community groups working in areas such as retrofitting homes and local community energy generation.

Its 2019-2020 environment report says the authority has taken a “mission based approach” to the 2038 target, which “rather than focusing on particular sectors, focuses on problem specific challenges” – including energy, natural capital and communications – “with task and finish groups working on the challenges.”

Every action must consider climate change impact – Colin Murray, Partner, DWF

The response to COVID-19 has rightly involved primary legislation, and an unprecedented volume of guidance and financial assistance from governments around the world. Faced with an immediate threat to life, countries have taken drastic action and millions of people have changed their daily lives in a way that many of us would have simply not previously believed possible in order to respond to an emergency and safeguard our health and wellbeing. It has shown what can be done if we put our minds to it.

To date, the response to the climate emergency has taken a very different approach, which often means little primary legislation, national government guidance or financial assistance.