Univeristy of #Manchester statement on its “Green League” slippage

Posted on June 11, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Professor Colin Hughes is the Associate Vice President for Sustainability at the University of Manchester (see our November 2012 interview with him).  We contacted him last night for a statement about the University’s marked slippage in the latest People and Planet league table.

“Our strategies, plans, structures and processes are focused on realising the University’s strategic aims and don’t necessarily map on to, conform or comply with People and Planet’s Green League assessment criteria. Indeed, a number of our aspirational environmental sustainability initiatives fall outside their rating scheme. Like all top flight research intensive universities we have areas that we need to improve, and towards that end our detailed environmental strategy, planning and performance documents are available online so that everybody can judge our credibility and performance.”

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#MOSI on down; #Manchester and #climate “reckless disregard for our future for short-term gain” #mcc #acretinfuture

Posted on June 11, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

For those of you not lucky enough to buy the Manchester Evening News every day; there’s been a campaign by them about a possible threat to close the Museum of Science and Industry.  Is it pre-next-round-of-cuts brinkmanship?  Is it an effort to soften everyone up for entry charges?  I don’t know.

mosiWhat I do know – and it must be true because I read it in the Manchester Evening News – is that some bloke from D-ream and off the telly, Brian Cox, has said that closure would be “reckless disregard for our future for short-term gain.”

Erm, is it just me, or does that PRECISELY describe this city’s (in)action on climate change?

How many organisations have endorsed the Manchester Climate Change Action Plan? (the target was 1000).  Answer; 220 ish.

What has the City Council done to increase that number? Nothing.

How many of those endorsing organisations have got their own implementation plans? Two (the Council itself and its housing off-shoot).

What is anyone doing to get more implementation plans created?  Nothing

What is the “Steering Group” doing? Nothing

What is the Council doing?  Encouraging the totally insane “Airport City” development.

What action is being taken on adaptation (conferences and discussion papers don’t count). Nothing.

Besides endless plugs for the “digital economy,” what is the Executive Member for Environment choosing to write in the Manchester Evening News about climate change?  Nothing.

Who in the Council is holding anyone to account?  No-one (yet).

Unable to wean itself from the “spatial fix” of inward investment, the only phrase that fits the actions (as opposed to the endless boosterism) of the political leaders of our city, a city that used to pride itself on being innovative and thinking ahead of the game,  is what Cox said –

“reckless disregard for our future for short-term gain.”

Our children? They will curse us with every breath in their bodies.

Posted in Adaptation, Aviation, Climate Change Action Plan, Manchester Airport, Manchester City Council | Tagged , | 1 Comment

#Manchester Metropolitan University tops “Green League”

Posted on June 10, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

You heard it here first. Unless you read the Guardian, in which maybe you heard it here second, or third…

mmuManchester Metropolitan University has come first, (up from 10th place last year), in the “Green League” organised by the campaigning student group “People and Planet.”

They’re holding their “Green Impacts” awards on Friday. MCFly reported on ’em last year, but this year we won’t. Not because we’ve fallen out with the MMU folks (we at MCFly maintain extremely cordial relations with everyone), but because former MCFly co-editor Arwa Aburawa has selfishly gone and got herself gainful employment in London, with Al-Jazeera…

Doubtless, though, a) we’ll have some second-hand gossip and slightly inaccurate factoids to spray across the internet b) for the next year, MMU will be insufferably smug.  But they’ve got the problem that the only way is… down?!

“Proper” report (complete with quotes) to follow in due course.

We might even press MMU for their long-promised and never delivered statement on their Scope 3 emissions…

Meanwhile congratulations to all the people who made this happen.

And now, over to the Green Party, for some comments about Birley Fields.

PS University of Manchester? Down to 96th, from 59th.  Doubtless Colin Hughes is, as we speak, planning an exemplary execution or three…

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Have your say on the strategy for Greater #Manchester – closes 17th June!

Posted on June 10, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Tom Skinner urges MCFly readers to have their say on the strategy for Greater Manchester

Right now local authorities are working on a city-wide strategy, claiming ‘By 2020, the Manchester city region will have pioneered a new model for sustainable economic growth based around a more connected, talented and greener city region where all our residents are able to contribute to and benefit from sustained prosperity’.

In my opinion it’s very market-focussed, very much about business and less about people. It lacks any real vision of the communities and people of Manchester as a distinct asset to be invested in. There are things like skills training for individuals that makes them more attractive to investment, or opening up land for development in the most market-able spaces. But little or nothing about investing directly in communities through community organising and prioritisation of ultra-local community centres such as libraries and leisure centres. It also focuses on raising the average wage (which can be achieved while increasing inequality) rather than raising low wages through any effort toward a Living Wage.

I tend to pick up on stuff about education, community resources, low pay etc, but I’ll bet the strategy falls just as short on the environment – can any greens help a simpleton like me to spot how the strategy can improve its environmental aspirations? If so, why not tell the authorities directly! They’re asking for your thoughts, and credit where credit’s due, along with the ~50 page strategy, they provide a 2-page ‘plain English’ summary, so you don’t have to spend hours reading it.

The consultation closes on 17th June, so please write and have your say today.

Tom Skinner

 

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Film Review: “Do the Math” (showing this Sunday, 16th June in Rusholme!)

Posted on June 10, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Ahead of Sunday 16th’s showing of “Do the Math,” MCFly reader Nicola Brennan, who went to an earlier screening, tells us what she thought…

1. Is the film exciting?
I would say exciting isn’t the right word, though stimulating as it reiterates the issues fuel consumption being driven by rich lobbying companies who are drawing investment away from the rational sustainable alternatives. It creates a positive spin on the efforts of ‘Divestment’ the 350.org movement which shows increasing passion and the call to action. As as emotional call to action showing the size and diversity of campaigners increased however, the excitement for mathematicians was not sustained as the story was not followed up by ‘exciting’ measureable aim for success to reach the sustainable 350g.

2. Does it explain the issues clearly/would you recommend it for your non-climate-aware friends to watch?
I would recommend it to friends who are not climate aware as the film provides a great introduction into the maths in a simple and attractive way with clear visuals alongside figures. The film also clearly separates the issue of money and green energy alternatives separately in terms of a rational investment for wealthy companies.

3.What interesting questions (and answers!) are brought up?
Especially from an American perspective the film offered an interesting point of view of fossil fuel companies as ‘rouge’ and ‘radical’ due to their insistence on putting millions of pounds into searching for more and more sources to burn away the destroy everything instead of long term sustainable and successful alternatives to not only sustain their business for future generations but the earth and civilisation as we know it.

The big question the film put forward was are you investing in unclean energy? This question was put to churches, colleges and universities in the documentary leaving the viewers to derive at the question of where we as individuals are investing our money in our banks and pensions, and how can we insure we are not investing in unclean energy? Who should we lobby? …

Following the film showing views highlighted that those in fuel poverty were not considered, and how certain areas and communities will be affected changes if energy alternatives take place, especially those who live and rely on energy in areas of extreme climate. Furthermore whilst the documentary did a great job of describing the maths of the problem it did not follow this up in the second half of the film. Thus the calculations on how we will get from the current 400parts per million of C02 to the estimated 350 parts per million which is what many scientists, climate experts, and progressive national governments are now saying is the safe upper limit for CO2 in our atmosphere.

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Upcoming Event: “Do the Math” in Rusholme, South #Manchester Sun 16th June

Posted on June 10, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

This documentary is being shown by the Film Club on Sunday.

Sunday 16th June 4.30pm to 7pm, Eco-theme with a recycled paper sculpture craft session (4.30-6pm) followed by ‘Do The Math’- a documentary about climate change that took the US by storm. http://math.350.org/, (42 mins).
The Film Club is free, with refreshment available for a charge. It takes place at The Birch Community Centre, Brighton Grove, M14 5JT. For more information contact Rich Browning m: 07913 540680
e: richbrowning@healthymehealthycommunities.co.uk
Facebook: HMHC Twitter HMHCmcr
http://rusholmefilms.blogspot.co.uk/

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Volunteer Opportunity: Join Land Army & help grow organic #food 4 #Manchester

Posted on June 10, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Want to get a useful warm inner glow? Want to help grow organic food for Manchester?  Want to meet interesting people?  Read on…

Hello everyone!
There are three opportunities coming up to get out into the great outdoors, and join the Land Army this June. We will be travelling to both Moss Brook and Glebelands City Growers over the next few weeks to help out with weeding, hoeing, digging, planting and hopefully some harvesting! So, make the most of these long, warm days and join us for a satisfying days work, helping out Greater Manchester’s organic growers, learning about growing food and meeting like-minded people!

Thursday 20th June – Glebelands City Growers, Sale from 9.00am to 5.30pm (Cycling from Hulme to Sale!)

Friday 21st and Friday 28th June – Moss Brook Growers, Glazebury from 9.00am to 5.30pm
Pick up 9.00am from Hulme and back by 5.30pm for both trips to Moss Brook. We will be cycling to Glebelands, along the Bridgewater Canal, on 20th June as part of Bike Month Manchester – get in touch for more information. Lunch, hot drinks, snacks and gloves provided. You will need waterproofs. Please email chloe@kindling.org.uk if you would like to join us on any of these dates.

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#Manchester #climate nuggets June 10th 2013

Posted on June 10, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

Hi all,

The latest (June) Manchester Climate Monthly is out now!!!

Also, with the departure of MCFly co-editor Arwa Aburawa for wealthier climes (London), volunteering for MCFly becomes even more attractive (everyone knows she was the bad cop in the good cop/bad cop dyad, no?) mcmonthly@gmail.com for more details

Wanna flex your creative muscles, and maybe win £200?   Here’s the details of our short story contest all sorted.  Two thousand words (in English) on the subject “Manchester (UK) in a warmer world.”

 Marc Hudson

Coming up this week

Tues 11th, 6.45pm to 9pm Manchester Friends of the Earth Full Group Meeting, Greenfish Resource Centre, Oldham St. http://manchesterfoe.org.uk/

Wednesday 12th June 3.30pm ‘From Here to 2050: Low-Carbon Energy System Trajectories for the UK’ by Professor Paul Ekins, Director of the UCL Institute for
Sustainable Resources at University College London on (room C1, George Begg Building, Sackville Street).
From Here to 2050: Low-Carbon Energy System Trajectories for the UK Professor Paul Ekins, Professor of Resources and Environmental Policy, Director of the UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources at University College London (biography attached)
Over the last eight years the UK MARKAL energy system model has been used to deliver insights into how a low-carbon energy system for the UK might develop and how it might look in 2050. This seminar will give an overview of four scenario sets from the model that were used for this purpose, carried out by different modelling teams at different times with changes in assumptions. The results that emerge are fascinating in both their differences and their similarities, the former showing some of the key uncertainties in how the UK energy system might develop, and the latter giving more robust insights into some of the things that will need to happen if the UK’s carbon targets are to be met. The seminar will explore these necessary developments and speculate about the policies that might be needed to bring them about.

Thursday 13th June, 12pm to 2pm In Place of Growth: What new thinking and language do we need to revitalize local economies? Room AG9, Ellen Wilkinson Building University of Manchester, Oxford Road. Building No 77 on campus map: http://www.manchester.ac.uk/medialibrary/maps/campusmap.pdf
See steadystatemanchester.net for more info

Thurs 13th June, 6pm to 8.30pm North West Sustainable Business Quarterly “The sustainability specialist – the conscience of the business?”
Location: Bruntwood’s City Tower

Thursday 13  7pm – 9pm Manchester Green Party policy event “Democracy, Education, Justice, Services” Help form the basis for the manifesto for 2014. Free event at the Friends Meeting House, open to everyone.

Thu 13 Jun, 7pm to 8.30pm : Manchester Friends of the Earth climate campaign meeting; “Our monthly climate campaign meeting at which we’ll be catching up on the latest news about the Clean British Energy campaign and planning a new campaign aimed at greening rented homes. If you’d like to join us, please text Ali on 07786 090520 so we know to expect you.”  Green Fish Resource Centre, 46-50 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LE

Stories you may have missed on the MCFly website

 

Posted in Weekly bulletins | 2 Comments

Upcoming Event: “Food Inc” film showing Tues 18th June #Manchester

Posted on June 9, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly

foodincManchester Film Co-operative, in collaboration with Trauma at MMU and FoodCycle Manchester, would like to invite you to a screening of documentary film Food, Inc.

In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on the US food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that has been hidden from consumers with the consent of regulatory agencies. The food supply is now controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of consumer health, the livelihood of farmers, the safety of workers and the environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the perfect pork chop, herbicide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes that won’t go bad, but we also have new strains of E. coli—the harmful bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 people in the US annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.

Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore’s Dilemma, In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto) along with forward thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield’s Gary Hirshberg and Polyface Farms’ Joel Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising—and often shocking truths—about what we eat, how it’s produced, and where we are going from here.

This screening is a satellite event of Manchester Feeding the 5000 https://www.facebook.com/events/509707959077783/permalink/513971568651422/

Post-film discussion open to all! Indeed food issues are all around us (e.g. the UK food industry; local sourcing and veg growing in Manchester; food waste and consumption habits; food poverty crisis and the rise of food banks; food sovereignty, development aid, speculation on food prices; the Monsanto empire; pesticides and the bee tragedy; etc)

TIME: Doors open at 6.30pm, the film starts at 7pm and lasts 94min. Post-film discussion to end at 9.30pm.

ADMISSION: £3 waged, £2 unwaged/student — fundraiser event for FoodCycle Manchester.

VENUE: New Business School G.36 – Lecture Theatre 3 (All Saints Campus). (Full details: http://www.manchesterfilm.coop/find-us/new-business-school-manchester-metropolitan-university/)

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Upcoming event: “Towards a Sustainable Economic System” Tues 23rd July

Posted on June 9, 2013 by manchesterclimatemonthly
You are invited to:
Towards a Sustainable Economic System
a workshop in central Manchester facilitated by researchers from nef (the new economics foundation)
Tuesday 23rd July 2013
9am-5pm
Methodist Central Hall, Oldham Street, Manchester M1 1JQ

Who is this workshop for
There are many organisations and individuals in Manchester who are keen to learn about, and create a more equitable economy;. an economic system that is sustainable and provides adequately for all rather than our existing model which is tightly bound to endless growth.
Why a workshop?
This workshop is being organised by members of Steady State Manchester, Climate Survivors and concerned individuals to bring some of these people together and provide resources and opportunities for collaboration and co-ordination.

About nef
nef have been working to develop an economics based on stability, sustainability and social justice for 25 years, and have for the past four years been developing a blueprint for a non-growth-based economic system and a map of how we might create it. For more information see http://www.neweconomics.org/

What will the workshop involve?
The workshop will provide an opportunity for 30-50 people from local organisations to:

  • become more familiar with nef research on economic myths such as “Austerity is the best way to reduce the deficit”, and learn ways to counter them
  • find out about how to change our economic system to one which minimises inequality and enables us to stay within ecological limits
  • gain access to tools and resources
  • network and strengthen their ability and networks for local and national campaigning
  • become part of a national network of people working towards a sustainable and equitable economic system
The myth that cutting spending will reduce the deficit sits at the heart of the government’s economic strategy. But economic myths survive only as long as they go unchallenged. In the morning session we’ll explore how to successfully dismantle some of the key economic fictions of our time, including the myths that the government is using as the basis for the current assault on the welfare state, and find out how economic systems change, using the rise of neoliberalism as an example.

In the afternoon, we’ll look at how we can get from our current position to an economic system based on sustainability and social justice and discuss how we can build a movement capable of displacing neoliberalism, including ways that we can work together locally to boost each other’s capacity and influence. This is a great opportunity to draw together activists from a range of organisations including yours to learn from nef and strengthen local and national collaboration and co-ordination.
How much does it cost?
We are asking attendees to pay £15 – £5 towards our costs, and £10 as a returnable deposit. If this is too expensive for you or your organisation, please let us know – we don’t want anyone to be excluded on grounds of cost.
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