Upcoming event: The Circular Economy for Textiles: are we nearly there? #Manchester 25 November.

Posted on November 13, 2019 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Booking via here.

 

Description

The Circular Economy for Textiles: are we nearly there?

Date: Monday 25th November 2019

Time: Wine reception 5.30pm, lecture 6pm

Location: GM LT2, Geoffrey Manton Building, Manchester M15 6LL

Tickets: Free – Available on Eventbrite

Achieving sustainability in textiles has been acknowledged as a worthy goal by industry leaders, who have invested time and resources to deliver products with attractive environmental stories. However, in a price-sensitive market for apparel and household textiles, there are commercial constraints on decisions affecting the sustainability of products. Prior to the year 2000, most of the environmental improvements were legislation-driven: restrictions on the use of specific dyes and finishes, recycling of packaging and controls on the purity of
effluent waters from industrial premises. Some initiatives were taken by retailers to reduce the environmental footprint associated with laundering and drying textile products. The concept of producer responsibility had been embedded in regulations affecting waste electrical and electronic products, but little else. Nevertheless, some apparel brands initiated take-back schemes and have implicitly acknowledged responsibility for the whole life cycle. This proactive step opened the door for several alternative options for sustainable business models: rental arrangements, mending and repair, upcycling, shwopping, etc.

The past two decades have witnessed, not just steps, but an enormous conceptual leap, and the key phrase is the “Circular Economy” (CE). The goal is not to minimise waste and environmental impacts, but to turn wastes into resources. Materials are recycled and not discarded. There have been two major intellectual drivers for the change: Industrial Ecology and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR). In addition, there has been a significant charismatic lead provided by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. The team assembled by Ellen MacArthur has succeeded in networking with businesses, business leaders and politicians to put CE firmly on the agenda for change.

Numerous pre-competitive projects have been funded by governments to further the CE goal. Most of these have addressed specific sub-sectors of the textile supply chain, but one has considered the issues comprehensively. This is the Resyntex project, and a team from Manchester Metropolitan University has been active in this project for the past 4 years.

This lecture provides an overview of the project and its achievements. Notably, there is now a pilot plant (capable of processing 100 tonnes of waste textiles per year), operating in Slovenia. The lecture aims to show that whilst there are existing and emerging technology solutions to the challenge of implementing CE, there are still
major cultural barriers that need to be addressed. These affect retailing (the messages accompanying the products), the supply chain (which needs to be more open to industrial symbiosis), the consumers (who make choices about what to purchase and what to dispose), political leaders (who need to address regulation and the use of EPR to support industrial change), and designers (whose decisions are crucial if CE is to become a reality). Technologically, we are nearly there, but culturally, we have still a long way to go!

Professor David Tyler

David Tyler is Professor in Fashion Technologies at Manchester Fashion Institute at Manchester Metropolitan University. He joined the Department of Clothing Design and Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University in 1979 (now metamorphosed into the Manchester Fashion Institute). He has pursued a number of research interests related to responsive manufacturing (arising from my own PhD), teamworking, systems modelling and new product development. These projects were funded by EPSRC and the DTI.

During 2000-2004, David managed the North West Advanced Apparel Systems Centre, a European-funded initiative to support clothing and textile companies in North-West England. This involved supporting 60 companies with knowledge-intensive projects designed to safeguard or increase employment and sales. This has brought him into contact with a wide range of companies representing all activities in the supply chain. A particular interest in innovation has led to the support of textile digital printing technologies by providing training courses and sponsoring small projects. A DTI-funded project concerned with digital printing and mass customisation in the interior textiles sector involving three Rochdale companies and MMU was completed in January 2004.

From 2006-2008, David completed work for the EU Framework 6 project: “Fashion 2 Future”. This was a technology transfer project involving 38 partners with the aim of building links throughout Europe.

David was lead academic for a KTP project (Knowledge Transfer Partnership – completed 2010) concerned with protective headwear. This project was the stimulus for more recent research into apparel that protects against impacts.

From June 2015-November 2018, David was involved in the EU-funded project: Resyntex. This is a Circular Economy initiative to turn the clothing and textiles life cycle from linear to circular. I am the Leader of WP2 which is concerned mainly with consumer behaviour issues.

David’s current research interests are in new product development, PPE, sustainability issues affecting apparel (notably the EU-funded project Resyntex), mobile e-commerce, wearable technologies and textile digital printing.

Manchester Metropolitan University is committed to disability equality. If you have any access requirements, please let us know via 0161 247 6740 or email us at lucy.simpson@mmu.ac.uk before you arrive to help us to make sure that your visit to the event is as enjoyable as possible.

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Upcoming Friday: Inspirational Australian … film, this Friday, #Manchester

Posted on November 13, 2019 by manchesterclimatemonthly

2040From Greenpeace-

Calling all families, eco-warriors & documentary lovers: what would the future look like if we simply embraced the best that exists today?

2040 is an Australian documentary that takes a solutions-based approach to how we can, using the technology we already have, mitigate the enormous global issues we currently face.

It’s released in the UK next week, and award-winning director Damon Gameau will be running a preview of the film and Q&A with a speaker from Greenpeace in Manchester this Friday! You’ll get a chance to hear more about the making of the film and what you can do personally to help the planet.

We’d love to see you there.

The details

When: Friday 15th Nov, 7pm

Where: Odeon Manchester Great Northern, 235 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN

How much: £10.75 (discounts available for under-18s, seniors and students)

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Upcoming:” Plastic waste, The science and the theology” Uni of #Manchester, 20 November

Posted on November 11, 2019 by manchesterclimatemonthly

plastic waste science and theologyPeter Budd, Professor of Polymer Chemistry, will consider the science of plastics and the role of theology in driving social change

All are welcome to attend ‘Plastic waste: The science and the theology’ on Wednesday, 20 November at 1pm in the Chemistry Building, Lecture Theatre G.54.

Peter Budd, Professor of Polymer Chemistry, will consider the science of plastics, but also think about the role theology may play in driving social change.

This will be followed by a discussion.

No need to book, just turn up on the day.

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Upcoming event: Drive yourself wild, electrically Thurs 12th December in #Manchester

Posted on November 8, 2019 by manchesterclimatemonthly

etihad dayEVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED FROM 16th November to  Thurs 12th December

 

What: A test drive day for people seriously considering switching to a more eco-friendly* form of transport in the electric car. ,   It’s in conjunction with Transport for Greater Manchester, and the Greater Manchester Electric Vehicle charging network, to help reduce carbon emissions in Manchester. Attendees can choose from a Tesla Model 3, Jaguar I-Pace, BMW i3 and Nissan Leaf to drive (passenger rides from pro drivers are also available.)

When and where: Saturday the 16th Nov at the Etihad Stadium (Ashton New Road, M11 3FF) from 10am to 5pm.

How to book:   https://www.octopusev.com/events/etihad-stadium-drive-an-electric-car/form

 

* MCFly says – there are real question marks over just how eco-friendly a mass switch to EVs would be.  These are explored in an upcoming post on Climate Emergency Manchester, written by Calum McFarlane.  Nonetheless, MCFly’s editor recently had a ride in Mr McFarlane’s EV and oh my.…

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Upcoming event: Innovation and #climate change, #Manchester 26/27 November

Posted on November 8, 2019 by manchesterclimatemonthly

So this below (click here to register)  is coming up.

Before we get there- The following is worth noting-

  • There is no email list for people in Manchester to hear about stuff the Council is putting on to do with climate change (there are doubtless good reasons for this)
  • The idea of ‘innovation’ is being sprinkled around as a way to distract from the straightforward need for political leadership and a change in thinking. Not abolishing cycle lanes, not putting “temporary” carparks next to schools, actually spending money on the climate emergency, that sort of thing.
  • There is no asterisk next to the 2038 zero carbon date. It’s almost as if there is no way on earth the date will get brought forward, no matter what.

Nonetheless, innovations ARE also needed, and so, if you are a techie sort of person who gives a damn, please register for this…

innovate4manchester.png

Innovate4Manchester – tackling the climate challenges of Our Manchester

About this Event

Join Manchester City Council and partners for an evening and day at Innovate4Manchester – a collaborative event that aims to address some of the most pressing concerns we face on energy and mobility in Manchester today. We want to think about issues such as:

  • How might we shift people to different transport types?
  • How might we encourage walking and other forms of active travel in the city centre?
  • How might we improve road quality for cyclists (and other road users)?
  • How might we use transport more effectively?
  • Where might additional electric vehicle charging points be located?
  • How might we demonstrate the effects of peoples’ behaviour on air quality?
  • How might we support the case for developing high quality residential areas within existing urban centres?

Innovate4Manchester offers the opportunity for collaboration, problem and solution exploration, and constructive pitching sessions. We are offering prizes for winning teams and ongoing support provided to help you launch and grow your venture. So, if you want to make a positive contribution to help Manchester achieve Zero Carbon by 2038, this event is for you! Take a look at the city’s plan for Zero Carbon 2038

Is this event for me?

We want to attract a diverse range of attendees to the event. Whether you’re a Manchester resident affected by the challenges, or someone who has experience of addressing them, your input will be invaluable.

We are also keen for anyone to attend who can contribute towards potentially building solutions to the challenges, for example:

  • Developers & techies
  • Students
  • Entrepreneurs, social entrepreneurs
  • Data scientists
  • Technologists
  • Service designers

Could you help finance potential solutions? Do you have a vested interest in the challenge areas? Can you help develop ventures? If so, you’ll be a useful addition to the event.

The event is supported by Manchester City Council and partners in the EC Horizon 2020 funded Triangulum project. These include: Siemens, University of Manchester, Manchester Metropolitan University and Pixel Mill Digital, working with Ordnance Survey’s Geovation Team.

Event format

A full agenda will be sent to everyone who register’s – our plan for the event is:

Tuesday 26th November: 6pm – 9pm

  • Introductions and welcome from MCC – why are we here and what are we trying to achieve?
  • Introductions from the facilitators – Ordnance Survey’s Geovation team
  • Icebreaker exercise – getting to know each other
  • Introduction to the Problem Briefs from the Problem ‘owners’ at MCC
  • Solution exploring – and team formation
  • Introduction to the tools; data and resources available for the day

Wednesday 27th November: 9am – 6pm

  • Welcome back and agenda for the day
  • Recap on objectives/problem definition
  • Recap on successful innovation
  • Working in teams
  • Pitching, judging, prize giving and next steps

Prizes and Next Steps

Successful participants will be invited back for a workshop on the 4th of December with the Ordnance Survey Geovation team to develop and refine their solutions. Please keep this date in your diary.

Cash prizes are up grabs along with support from Manchester City Council and Ordnance Survey’s Geovation team and Triangulum project partners with a one day business proposition workshop. You’ll also have the opportunity to work closely with the problem owners at in the city.

  • £500 per winning team
  • A follow-up workshop/training day to develop winning teams’ respective propositions
  • Opportunity to engage with the city to develop their ideas further

Where

The event is being hosted in the Bright Building on Manchester Science Park.

Food and refreshments provided throughout the evening and day

Triangulum is a European Smart Cities and Communities Lighthouse project (SCC1) funded by the European Union’s Research and Innovation Framework Programme Horizon 2020.

This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme grant agreement number 646578

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Job Alert: Bridge 5 Mill, Assistant Manager- Building and Events #Manchester

Posted on November 7, 2019 by manchesterclimatemonthly

bridge 5 millJOB DESCRIPTION:   Bridge 5 Mill: Assistant Manager: Building and Events

Working as part of a small team, the Bridge 5 Mill Assistant Events and Building Manager will work across all aspects of our work in the building including; reception, events, office and building management. They will provide great customer service to our office tenants, conference and event customers, and all other building users. They will also assist and deputise for the Building Manager in the running of the building when needed.

Bridge 5 Mill is owned by the Fairfield Environment Trust. A key objective of the post is to contribute to the smooth running and development of the mill as a hub and venue for organisations and groups working towards a sustainable and equitable future for people and planet.

ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

RECEPTION

To provide a friendly and professional reception service at Bridge 5 Mil by;

  • Creating a welcoming atmosphere for all guests and tenants and providing great customer service to all building users.
  • Taking responsibility for reception according to agreed rotas and procedures when required
  • Helping guests, tenants and building users with their enquiries in a professional manner
  • Ensuring all tenants, guests and building users comply with agreed procedures and policies
  • Managing incoming calls and email enquiries and responding or redirecting as appropriate
  • Taking delivery of mail and parcels and ensuring they are directed to the addressee
  • Ensuring a clean and tidy workspace
  • Supervising the receipt of payments from occasional customers and tenants
  • Understand the importance of data protection and maintain standards of best practice in this area.

EVENTS

To Assist the Building Manager and team at Bridge 5 Mill in running events in the building by;

  • Responding to all event and room hire enquires (web, email, telephone and walk-ins) in a timely and professional manner
  • Drawing up tailored quotes to event requirements as received
  • Updating the booking system in a timely manner and ensuring all enquiries, bookings and cancellations are recorded correctly in the online booking system and supporting documents
  • Giving prospective event organisers guided tours of the building and advising on set-up and equipment available. Promoting the use of Bridge 5 Mill and doing their best to secure the hire booking
  • Explaining our sustainable policies and how they relate to events to all event hire customers
  • Liaising with event organisers on their requirements prior to date of their event and sending and receiving relevant documentation prior to the event including; room booking form, health and safety & risk assessment documents, travel and parking information, event hire Terms & Conditions.
  • Supervising the running of events on the day and ensuring a smooth, efficient and successful event for organisers and attendees
  • Preparing the room; ensuring rooms are correctly set out, clean, tidy and looking their best. At the end of the bookings, clear, tidy the room, put equipment away and where necessary set up for the next booking.
  • Ordering and setting up outside catering and in-house refreshments to ensure they are presented tidily and attractively
  • Setting up any IT equipment required, and checking that it properly functions before room users arrive. Showing room users how to use the equipment, and supporting them appropriately.
  • Ensuring appropriate behaviour whilst in the building and its grounds, inform the Building Manager if you feel inappropriate behaviour is taking place or Bridge 5 Mill policies are being contravened.

 

MARKETING

To support the Building Manager and Marketing Assistant with marketing and publicity and the promotion of Bridge 5 Mill across social media, including; Facebook, Twitter, Linked In and Instagram (and other platforms that may be suitable in the future) by:

  • Generating content (photos, text and video) for use in publicity material and on social media
  • Ensuring the content of Bridge 5 Mill marketing and publicity and social media activity promotes Bridge 5 Mill as a unique, professional and inspiring events and office venue
  • Ensuring all content is in line with Bridge 5 Mill and Fairfield Environment Trust policies (including; FET aims and objectives and Bridge 5 Mill equalities and sustainable procurement policies)
  • Distributing publicity, posters and flyers for Bridge 5 Mill and organised or co-promoted events
  • Working with hire customers of Bridge 5 Mill, tenants, partner organisations and individuals to promote their events and projects across social media, where agreed and appropriate and in support of the aims and objectives of Bridge 5 Mill (in conjunction with the Social Media Manager)
  • Circulating and liking/re-tweeting/sharing other like-minded organisations events and news items where they support the aims and objectives of Bridge 5 Mill

 

OPERATIONS

To Assist the Building Manager in the day-to-day running of Bridge 5 Mill by:

  • Bringing any questions or problems from tenants and other users to the notice of the Building Manager in a timely manner
  • Dealing with these where appropriate and possible
  • Working in a manner that ensures policies and procedures of Bridge 5 Mill and the Fairfield Environment Trust are implemented
  • Ensuring the safety and comfort of tenants and other users at all times while in the building and garden
  • Working to ensure that the income from tenants and occasional hirers is maximised
  • Opening and closing the building according to agreed rotas and security procedures
  • Use of security equipment to carry out all security procedures when required (including; opening and closing the building and setting alarms)
  • Assisting with the timely upkeep of record keeping and other admin tasks including; general office admin, filing, dealing with mail, maintaining in-house data bases (such as; event enquiries, visitor statistics, feedback responses) and producing information signs for the building.)
  • Performing day-to-day tasks when needed to keep the building clean and tidy and functioning well
  • Taking responsibility for the ordering of equipment and consumables where directed by the building manager; for example ordering for the tenants tuck shop stock and for event refreshments
  • Liaising with external suppliers and contractors in the absence of the Building Manager
  • Supervising the regular and occasional cleaning of Bridge 5 Mill and its facilities when required
  • Overseeing the collection of recycling and waste.
  • Fire Marshall cover: use of emergency equipment and to carry out emergency procedures when required (training from a recognised provider will be provided)
  • Emergency First Aid cover (First Aid training from a recognised provider will be provided)
  • To deputise for the Building Manager on their days off and annual leave.
  • Ensuring that the building complies to Health and Safety legislation when Building Manager is not on site.
  • Bridge 5 Mill staff are required to undertake work outside their current role description as necessary to meet organisational needs.
  • At times the holder of this role will work alone in line with our lone worker policy.

 

PERSON SPECIFICATION: 

  • Friendly and outgoing
  • Able to use own initiative, think under pressure and react to situations in a calm and professional manner
  • Excellent organisational skills
  • Ability to manage a number of different tasks simultaneously
  • Good prioritisation skills and be flexible enough to adapt when plans and requirements change
  • Excellent phone manner
  • Excellent people skills
  • Excellent customer service skills
  • Literate and numerate
  • Excellent problem solving skills
  • Good time management skills
  • Good communications skills – written and verbal
  • ICT and social media skills
  • Confidence in decision-making
  • Good leadership skills
  • An ability to work to tight deadlines and within constraints
  • Self-motivated and ability to work under own initiative
  • A good team-playing mentality
  • Can use Microsoft office; word, excel, outlook and PowerPoint.
  • Part of this role will involve setting up rooms for events so it is essential that the candidate is able to lift furniture
  • An understanding of, and interest in, sustainability and how this may influence how we manage the building is desired but not essential as on-the-job training will be given.

TERMS

Standard hours are 28.5 hours a week over three days.

Plus overtime covering staff leave and the potential for up to 15 weekend days covering events throughout the year.

Normal working days are expected to be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday but this may be subject to change occasionally due to the demands of the building with some overtime possible during busy events periods.

Fixed term contract for one year.

25 days holiday + Bank Holidays (pro rata)

You will be enrolled into the organisations pension scheme.

This position is line managed by, and reports to, the Bridge 5 Mill Manager.

A performance appraisal will be conducted every three months.

Three month probationary period

£17, 550 – £19,305 (pro rata 28.5 hours a week, based on the Living Wage)

HOW TO APPLY

Please send your CV and a covering letter to Michelle Lanaway, Building Manager via email at: michelle@bridge5mill.org.uk

 

Deadline for applications: Sunday 1 December 23.59

 

Interviews will take place on Wednesday 11 & Thursday 12 December 2019

 

Posted in Job Alert | 2 Comments

Breaking: Zero carbon date  for #Manchester to be discussed. Transparently and openly? Well, it depends on your definition…

Posted on November 6, 2019 by manchesterclimatemonthly

The Executive of Manchester City Council WILL receive a ‘zero carbon by when?’ report this year.

Speaking today at the City Council’s Neighbourhoods and Environment Scrutiny Committee (1), Councillor Annette Wright (2) stated

“I’ve confirmed with the Leader [Richard Leese] that the report on bringing the date to become carbon neutral forward to 2030 is definitely going to go to the Executive before the end of the year.“

The next Executive (3) meeting is on Wednesday 11th December, at 10am. Held at the Town Hall Extension, it is open to the public (We are assuming here that ‘Executive means a public meeting, not an email round-robin between elected and unelected ‘Executive’ types. Call us Pollyanna.)

A report had been promised as part of the July 10th 2019 Climate Emergency Declaration. The original text of the motion proposed to commit the City Council to

Continue working with partners across Manchester and GMCA to deliver the 2038 target, and determine if an earlier target can be possible, through a transparent and open review.

A Liberal Democrat (4) amendment

Explore the possibility of introducing a 2030 target in line with the IPCC report and request that a report on its viability be brought back to the Executive before the end of the year.

was accepted. And the whole motion approved with applause and general backslapping.

However, there had been a distinct lack of specific action since then (see the report of Climate Emergency Manchester (5) ‘The Dead Tortoise Society;).  At the Climate Group Subgroup meeting on 22nd October, a Liberal Democrat Councillor, Richard Kilpatrick, tried to get a straight answer out of the Executive Member for the Environment, with, to put it charitably, very limited success (see footage and transcript here).
While a report going to Executive is good news, there are many unresolved questions.

  • Is this the council’s idea of a “transparent and open review”? Srsly?
  • Will individual councillors get to voice their opinions (for example, at Full Council, which is next happening on Wednesday 27 November at 10am.
  • When did the Council – or its wholly owned subsidiary, the so-called “Manchester Climate Change ‘Agency’” (6) (approach the Tyndall Centre to do work on this? Did they wait three hours after the declaration was passed? Three days? Three weeks?  (What was their sense of urgency)
  • What, specifically did they ask Tyndall Centre to do? What time frame was given?
  • Did the Council demur if Tyndall asked for some, well, money? If so, why did the Council not cough up. Either this is an emergency or it isn’t?

Footnotes

    1. This is one of six scrutiny committees which are obliged to keep tabs on what the City Council’s elected and unelected leadership are doing. The other committees are Health, Economy, Resources and Governance,
    2. Councillor Annette Wright is a Labour Party councillor, for Hulme ward. She proposed the Climate Emergency motion in June this year. It was unanimously approved on July 10th.  Councillor Wright also chairs the Climate Change Subgroup, which met for the first time on 22nd October, and is planning to increase the frequency of its meetings.
    3. The Executive of Manchester City Council is made up of ten councillors from the Labour Party. The leader – since 1996 – is Richard Leese.
    4. Manchester City Council has 96 councillors (three for each of 32 wards). At present, 93 are Labour. Didsbury West has three Liberal Democrat councillors.
    5. Climate Emergency Manchester currently has a core group of five people – Marc Hudson (also editor of Manchester Climate Monthly), Calum McFarlane, Chloe Jeffries, Marion Smith and Ben Gardener. Its latest two reports are
      The Dead Tortoise Society, released on the 3 month anniversary of the City Council’s Climate Emergency Declaration, and was based on Freedom of Information Act requests. It showed that the Council has moved very slowly (at the speed of a Dead Tortoise, in fact) to enact the 23 elements of the motion.

      With Love and Rockets was released on Monday 21st October. It is full of practical, cheap ideas for building momentum for climate action in the city. So far the Council leadership has refused to acknowledge its existence.

      You can get involved via filling in this form</

    6. This entity, its future under review, is actually a community-interest company immune to Freedom of Information Act requests.

 

Posted in Manchester City Council, Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Upcoming event: “Aviation and the #climate crisis” Weds 20th Nov, #Manchester

Posted on November 6, 2019 by manchesterclimatemonthly

mcfly aviation and climate crisis 2019 11 20On Weds 20th November  (7pm-9pm) Flight Free UK is holding a free event – ‘Aviation and the Climate Crisis’ – at Bridge 5 Mill in Ancoats. Full event details are on Eventbrite: www.flightfreemanchester.eventbrite.co.uk and Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/936960989993874/

The event will explore the climate issues around aviation, including flight-free travel and the power of the individual to affect change. There will be four speakers, each giving their insights into the aviation industry and how we can solve the climate crisis. The presentations will be followed by a chance to ask questions to the panel.

Speakers will be Alice Larkin from the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, and Anna Hughes from Flight Free UK, with others to be confirmed.

Flight Free UK is a grassroots campaign that asks 100,000 people to pledge not to fly in 2020 in an effort to reduce carbon emissions and begin to shift the social norm away from flying. The pledge site is here: www.flightfree.co.uk/pledge.

Anna from Flight Free UK answered MCFly’s questions – full interview below

 

When did the campaign start, and why?
The campaign launched back in February of this year. The idea came last November, after I heard an interview on BBC Radio with a Swedish lady who was running a similar campaign over there. I thought it sounded like a great idea and set up the UK version.

What does the campaign hope to achieve in 2020, and how does it intend to achieve it?
Specifically, we hope people will pledge to take a year off flying and stay on the ground in 2020, and we’re seeking 100,000 people to make that pledge. More generally, we want to raise awareness of the climate impact of aviation and get the issue into the public conscious. We want to start a conversation and contribute to a reduction in aviation.

What would you say to people who said “well, I have family in countries where the only way to get there is flying, and I am damned if I am not going to help my aged parents/be there for my cousin’s wedding” etc?
We understand that everyone’s circumstances are different, and we recognise that flying plays a significant part in our modern society. However, we also know that in 2017, 64% of flight were for leisure (ONS figures), and those are flights that can easily be replaced (especially if they are within Europe, which many are!)

What would you say to airport workers who face unemployment and losing their houses etc if aviation is curtailed?
Aviation is not the only industry that offers employment – and you only have to look at Thomas Cook to know that companies go bust all the time. Industry goes where consumers lead, and if there is a shift away from aviation, industry will follow. (There was an 8% drop in air bookings in Sweden in the early part of this year, but this hasn’t resulted in mass unemployment).

How can people get involved in your campaign?
People can sign up at our website: www.flightfree.co.uk They can also join the conversation at our social channels (links below)

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Upcoming Event: Energise , Sat 16th November in #Manchester

Posted on November 5, 2019 by manchesterclimatemonthly

energise levensulmeIn a couple of weeks there’ll be a day of workshops and talks designed to help folks learn more about retrofitting their houses to improve energy efficiency. You can find out more about the event – and register for it – here.

MCFly caught up with Jonathan Atkinson, from the organisation putting the event on, Carbon Coop and asked him more.

Why should people come to the event?
If they’ve seen the news and are concerned about climate change but unsure what they can practically do in their homes or communities, this event is for them!

The focus is on offering the skills and knowledge people need for home retrofit and energy efficiency works but there’s other sessions in there for people looking to act in different ways such as building off grid solar panels and battery storage units.

The emphasis is on mixing up expert training, practical skills and peer learning in to a single day. We’re particularly keen on the peer learning because we know that people have so much skills and knowledge to share. It’s also about inspiration, helping people to visualise the kind of changes that are possible in homes and communities to make them safe in the ‘climate emergency’ world.

For those concerned about the impact of climate change and the need to swiftly decarbonise it should be heartening to know there are things that can be done.

The sessions are aimed at different levels of experience and pre-existing knowledge, so there should be something in there for everyone.

Plus there’s a pint in the pub at the end of the day to round things off!

If they can’t come, but want to get info, where do they go?
In terms of the pint – they can go to their own local pub and/or off licence. [Ed: In future leave the feeble attempts at humour to the professionals, okay?]

But in terms of the retrofit knowledge, they should check out the resources and guides on our website. We’d in particular highlight the householder videos section: https://vimeo.com/channels/1259204

What needs to change for local (GM region) activity on energy efficiency/domestic retrofit to kick into high gear, come within a mere million miles of what is needed to cope with social and ecological justice?
In a way it’s really simple and in another really complicated.

Retrofit is in some ways no different to any other home construction jobs, it simply involves specialist materials and specialist contractors taking an appropriate approach to risk.

We have a really excellent existing construction industry in Greater Manchester with builders regularly doing good work in the domestic sector such as extensions, loft conversions and kitchen fit outs.

We need to up-skill these contractors appropriately and demonstrate that there’s a market for this work.

The complicated aspect is that this kind of work is not common or normal and it’s not the kind of thing householders think about when they think about improving their homes.

Carbon Co-op are trying to act as an intermediary, sitting between householders, building knowledge and awareness, sharing best practice and inspiring examples, and builders, assisting their capacity and training.

Appropriate state support for contractor training, with a focus on craft skills and on site training would help, as would financial support for householders to commission work, perhaps in the form of low interest lending and 100% grants for householders in fuel poverty.

We think there is a role for councils to use the borrowing mechanisms they used during the regeneration boom of the 2000s.

We’d also like to see local authorities make better use of planning and building control services to steer people towards retrofit when they are refurbishing and raise quality standards.

Anything else you’d like to say.
Just that we believe everyone has the right to live in good quality, warm, energy efficient housing and that those who have the resources to take action, and are often more responsible for contributing to climate change, have more responsibility for making a difference!

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Formal complaint about the behavoiur of Richard Leese, to #Manchester City Council

Posted on November 4, 2019 by manchesterclimatemonthly

The following complaint about the actions of the Leader of Manchester City Council has been submitted on Sunday 3rd November.

 

The Monitoring Officer,
Chief Executive’s Department,
Town Hall,
Manchester
M60 2LA or
demserv@manchester.gov.uk

3rd November 2019

Dear Sir/Madam,

Re: Complaint about the behaviour of Richard Leese, member for Crumpsall.

On Wednesday 16th October 2019 the member who I am making a complaint about was acting as the Leader of the Council, chairing a meeting of its Executive.  To be clear, this means he was

“ acting as a Member or Co-opted Member of the Council or an Appointed Member of a Joint Committee, and, references to your official capacity are construed accordingly” and so is subject to the Code of Conduct for members of Manchester City Council, as adopted by the council on 11 July 2012.

I have transcribed the relevant portion of the meeting, from the videostream here.

Time Leese’s statements and claims Comment
0945 I note today there was a letter in the Manchester Evening News about somebody… er, it’s Mr Hudson, but also goes under the name of “Climate Emergency”. I think it’s a personal title that he’s adopted. If Mr Leese had cared to read the letter properly, he would have seen it was from “Climate Emergency Manchester.” For the record, there are five people in the core group of Climate Emergency Manchester. This complaint does not involve the other four, and has not been seen by them before its submission.
10.03 Some members will have seen the blog I did this week, referring to people who ten years ago when we invited everybody in, declined to come and help us with that project of cleaning up the air in this city. Mr Leese has here admitted that his blog ‘How Green is My City’ was in fact about me.  So, he is using a platform, with no comments enabled, to cast aspersions about people he does not like.

Also, the Climate Change Action Plan is not about “cleaning up the air” – it is about the greatest challenge facing our species
10.14 He’s one of the people who declined to be part of the project, and has been declined ever since. This is totally false.  I provide evidence below.
10:22 And again, I think it is about deeds rather than words. I think what we’re getting from a small number of people – I don’t want to exaggerate this, but a small number of people – is a lot of words about what other people should do, particularly about what we should do, rather than taking responsibility themselves.
It appears the responsibility he wants to take is the responsibility not to do something, but to tell us what we should be doing. This is a completely false statement.
10:46 We only account for two per cent, just over two per cent of the emissions of the city. We do have a leadership role for the city as a whole,
10:55 And we take that leadership role very very seriously, but we cannot compel people to do things.
That means we have to take people with us, and if we’re going to take people with us, we have to have a different sort of dialogue from just pointing the finger at people, and accusing them of not doing what they should er, should be doing.
11.16 We also shouldn’t be trying to be dictatorial with people, as well. Typical strawman.  Perhaps Mr Leese might like to refresh himself on the second goal of the 2009 plan, the Council’s leadership role in the creation of a low carbon culture.

With regard to the City Council’s code of conduct for members, I want to highlight the following.

2.3 Honesty and Integrity

“Members should not place themselves in situations where their honesty and integrity may be questioned, should not behave improperly and should on all occasions avoid the appearance of such behaviour.”

In his completely false (and provably so- see appendix) comments about my actions ten years ago, Mr Leese has fallen very far short of the “highest standards of personal conduct in everything they do as a Member.”  (2.1)

He has breached two of the general obligations

3.1 You must not (b) bully or be abusive to any person;

Through his totally false statements, he has been abusive.

  1. “You must not conduct yourself in a manner which could reasonably be regarded as bringing your office or the Council into disrepute.”

Through his false, abusive and bullying statements, Mr Leese has most definitely brought the office of the Leader of the Council into direspute.

 

Evidence that Mr Leese’s statements are totally false.

There is a wealth of documentary evidence that Mr Leese’s statements about my behaviour ten years ago are false. I make note of four.

1)  I have electronic copies of minutes of Environmental Advisory Panel meetings from 2009 to 2012. These list me as attending and contributing to these meetings.  The people dealing with this complaint should look at the Council’s copies.
2)  My name, along with the names of organisations I was closely associated (Manchester Climate Fortnightly and Call to Real Action, appear in the thanks section of the Manchester Climate Change Action Plan, published in November 2009 (see below). If I had “refused to help,”  how could my name, and the names of these organisations, appear there?

thanks page of mcr a cretin future annotated

3) I interviewed Richard Leese in July 2010 and January 2012. If I had ‘refused to help’ he would have a) not done the interviews and b) made the accusations in the interviews.

Here are the relevant links.

https://manchesterclimatefortnightly.wordpress.com/city-council/richard-leese-interview-july-2010/

https://manchesterclimatemonthly.net/interviews/interview-with-sir-richard-leese-jan-2012/

4) In March 2012 I put forward a set of proposals for improving the Environmental Advisory Panel.  These can be seen here.

https://manchesterclimatemonthly.net/about/learn/links/councils-and-agma/eap-proposal/

This was welcomed by Councillor Nigel Murphy, who was then Executive Member for the Environment and is, for now, Deputy Leader of the Council.  See screengrab below.

murphy reply 2012

Two days later (20th March 2012) all members of the Environmental Advisory Panel received an email cancelling the latest meeting (this was a regular occurrence). However, the email also said

“There has been some informal discussion about the future role of EAP and, following discussions between Councillor Nigel Murphy and Marc Hudson, we propose to conduct a survey/questionnaire of EAP members ahead of a discussion at the next meeting – likely to be held in early May. We will be working with Marc on the content of the survey/ questionnaire and intend to get that out to you before Easter.

The Council never kept its promise to do this, and the EAP was then abolished, and replaced with a new organisation. I was not invited to attend.

I will be submitting Freedom of Information Act requests about the alleged “refusal” to help the city council.

Resolution of this issue
I have read the procedures for dealing with complaints.  I am aware of the informal resolution mechanisms.

4.2 Types of informal resolution might include:

  • An explanation by the Subject Member of the circumstances surrounding the complaint;
  • An apology from the Subject Member;

Informal resolution of this complaint can be dealt with by the following:

[I then list a text that the member would

a) put on his blog

b) read out at the next Executive meeting.]

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