The Committee scrutinised the Manchester Climate Change Partnership (MCCP) and Agency (MCCA) Impact Report for financial year 2022-23. This report was an overview of the Partnership and Agency’s roles, which are to set targets and a strategy for the city in the form of a pathway, carbon budget and recommended actions to meet those targets. They also then report the progress of the city against these targets, and champion the work done by partners and initiate further action. The report outlined who was involved, their governance and how they supported MCC’s climate change activity. Manchester has received a CDP rating of A, via the MCCP.
The Committee raised concern that members may use the Partnership to greenwash instead of taking meaningful action. However, it’s noted that we must consider that criteria for membership cannot be too strict if it is to promote inclusivity.
The report has been praised as clarifying the role of the MCCA and MCCP, and it’s hoped that its clear value proposition will bring new people into the Partnership.
The MCCA also has a youth partnership board for people aged 16-28. It is hoped that soon this board will better connect with policy and decision makers to ensure young people can have a meaningful impact.
The committee then scrutinised the MCC Climate Change Action Plan 2020-2025 Quarter 2 update. This is the second quarterly report of the year (July-Sept). It gives an emissions report from the previous quarter (April to June). It also gives updates on activity, and case studies of retrofit work and city-wide activity on single use plastics reduction. Key updates include: MCC had used 22% of their carbon budget so far this year. Of the 48 actions, 100% are working to target or work in progress.
The Committee raised an issue surrounding the Government’s lack of action in decarbonising the grid, meaning the National Grid has used more greenhouse gases in the past year. MCC’s plans are reliant on the decarbonisation of the National Grid, which is increasingly at risk. To mitigate this risk, the Council are currently in a procurement process for purchasing energy through a power purchase agreement which will decarbonise their energy supply, a report on this will be released in December.
The Committee also scrutinised a report on MCC work on single use plastics, and waste and recycling, specifically discussing fly-tipping and issues with recycling in densely populated inner city areas.
https://beenetzero.co.uk/about/
https://www.manchesterclimate.com/MCCP
https://www.manchesterclimate.com/youth-board