manchester climate monthly

In 2012 Manchester City Council aimed for a 10% reduction in its own emissions. In July 2013 it claimed a 7% reduction. It was able to do this because responsibility for traffic lights moved from its books. Looking at everything else (buildings, transport) emissions went … UP by 1.8%.
So, building on that extremely strong base, the Council’s bureaucrats have proposed a series of actions to help them hit a new “7%” target. You can see the complete list here. Manchester Climate Monthly is going to take a closer look at each and every one of these 44 “actions.”

Twice a week, on “Annual Plan Tuesdays” and “Annual Plan Thursdays” we will be asking a few straightforward questions about each item. And to illustrate each post, we (Marc Hudson and Marc Roberts) are devising “Top Trump” cards for all of these actions. At two a week it will take you until December or so to collect the whole set… So far can’t give you a percentage on the 2005 figure, since the Council has been going off its 2009/10 baseline, in direct contradiction of its own plan.

And throughout all of this, we are asking YOU, the reader, and council tax payer (probably), what YOU think the Council should REALLY be doing… Because next year the council moves to a “three year plan.” And given what we already know of the low quality of the carbon plans and their implementation so far, we, the citizens, will be complicit if we remain silent…

What it says

4.20 Leisure estate (39% of building emissions) will deliver savings through the Manchester Sport and Leisure Trust (MS&LT) and Serco partners. The Aquatics Centre will commission a study to identify energy efficient options for light replacement in the pool hall, install dry urinals and LEDs and sensors in locations throughout the site. Wythenshawe Forum will also continue their installation of LEDs, efficient pool lighting, and business cases for other works. MS&LT will commission energy audits in three of their major sites and deliver their wider Sustainability Action Plan. The new Beswick Leisure Centre will be delivered to BREEAM Excellent standards and low carbon credentials incorporated into future developments at Hough End and Levenshulme.

What was said last year (direct quote from 2012/13 plan)

4.5.3 Manchester Sport & Leisure Trust (MS&LT). MS&LT (an independent
Charitable Trust that manages leisure facilities throughout Manchester) introduced a
sustainability policy for staff and developed a low-carbon plan that will lead to
delivery of spend-to-save energy efficiency projects in 2012/13.

MCFly’s verdict

So they’re going to “commission a study” here and “make a business case” there.  WHAT HAVE THEY BEEN *DOING* THESE LAST 3 YEARS?  REALLY?  Oh, and the “Sustainability Action Plan” last year – is not to be found on the MS&LT website.  Does it exist even?

What would a proper three year plan around this item look like?

There would be actual numbers attached to each of these items, about how much carbon would be saved.  These goals would be ambitious, not weaselly.  There would be quarterly reports on what progress was and was not being made. Don’t hold your breathe…

How can culture be shifted around this item?  Engage sports clubs. Maybe fly some of them off to Bangladesh to play football. No, wait…

What else should the Council be doing around this item?

Actually engage sports clubs. Guilt City and United into tidying up their own act but also get it into the programmes for matches etc etc.  Buy lots of copies of “Climate Change for Football Fans.” (obviously don’t BUY it at Amazon…)

Other info n/a

Phone numbers and emails of the organisations n/a