I have just got back from Stockport Metropolitan Borough Councils ‘Climate Action Now Summit’ where we learnt about the climate action they are taking. Stockport and Manchester councils have been independently accessed by ‘Climate Action UK’ and their scorecards have been published. A summary of these scorecards are given below with links to the details. There are also links below to a Climate Report Card from Friends of the Earth on Greater Manchester and their 5 year plan. Friends of the Earth and UK Divest have also revealed how much money Councils fund fossil fuels through their pension funds. Details to be found below.
On Tuesday 18 October, Climate Emergency UK published their Council Climate Action Scorecards https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/. This is the first ever assessment of climate action across all UK councils and all council functions. Manchester City Council scored 50% – only 41 councils in the UK scored 50% or more for their climate action, the average score being 32%. That score of 50% for Manchester breaks down as follows:
- Building & Heating 75%
- Transport 26%
- Planning & Land Use 67%
- Governance & Finance 30%
- Biodiversity 23%
- Collaboration & Engagement 88%
- Waste Reduction & Food 53%
These scores are based on the answers to 91 questions, the answers coming from a mix of available national data, Freedom of Information Requests, volunteer research etc. To check out the detailed score cards go to https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/.
The Council Climate Action Scorecard for Stockport is on this link. Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council Climate Plan Scorecards.
SMBC got an average score of 35%. That score for Stockport breaks down as follows:
- Building & Heating 49%
- Transport 23%
- Planning & Land Use 19%
- Governance & Finance 29%
- Biodiversity 8%
- Collaboration & Engagement 77%
- Waste Reduction & Food 36%
Greater Manchester’s carbon-neutral by 2038 target – are we on track?
Ahead of the 2023 Green Summit on Monday 2nd October, Manchester Friends of the Earth produced their ‘Climate Report Card‘ (PDF).
This is their analysis of Greater Manchester’s progress with its Five Year Environment Plan (5YEP) (2019-2024) towards the ambition for Greater Manchester becoming ‘carbon neutral’ by 2038, and how they can avoid blowing our carbon budget for Greater Manchester.
Friends of the Earth has helped UK Divest and uncovered new data that reveals local authorities are investing a whopping £1.3 billion in fossil fuels through their pension funds. This is £6 billion more than the last study found in 2021.
To find out details of where the GREATER MANCHESTER PENSION FUND invests £1.3 Billion on fossil fuels click on the link.
On Friday 1st December, the GM pension fund management panel is meeting at GMPF office at Guardsman Tony Downes House in Droylsden. Fossil Free GM will be there to ask them why they still haven’t got a divestment plan if you want to join them.
Good News
- Wales follows Scotland and England to ban single-use plastics. A similar ban – which includes single-use plastic plates, cutlery and drink stirrers – came into force in England on 1 October and in Scotland last year.
- Ulez expansion: 45% fewer ‘dirty’ vehicles now on London’s roads, says TfL. Sadiq Khan hails ‘huge progress’ as progress report finds more than 95% of vehicles are now compliant.
- London’s low emission zones have improved air quality, study suggests. The introduction of low emission zones has also led to a reduction in hospital admissions for respiratory conditions, researchers say.
- Climate labels similar to cigarette packet warnings could cut meat consumption – new research
Not so Good News
- The ‘flickering’ of Earth systems is warning us: act now, or see our already degraded paradise lost | George Monbiot | The Guardian
- Farming tuna on land heralded as a win for sustainability – but there are serious concerns around animal welfare
- Eating less meat is a climate priority, whatever the sceptics say
- Our new map reveals the effects of 20th century land-use and climate change on Britain’s wild species
- Forests are vital to protect the climate, yet the world is falling far behind its targets
- El Niño may be drying out the southern hemisphere – here’s how that affects the whole planet
Bad News
- Rishi Sunak to ‘double down’ on anti-green policies in king’s speech. PM will announce a new system for awarding oil and gas exploration licences, and new pro-car legislation, sources say.
- Extreme weather is outpacing even the worst-case scenarios of our forecasting models
- Carbon budget for 1.5°C will run out in six years at current emissions levels – new research. For a two-in-three chance of staying within 1.5°C, the budget shrinks to one-and-a-half years.
- Climate crisis: carbon emissions budget is now tiny, scientists say. Having good chance of limiting global heating to 1.5C is gone, sending ‘dire’ message about the adequacy of climate action
- Banks pumped more than $150bn in to companies running ‘carbon bomb’ projects in 2022. Projects that risk 1.5C heating target operated by companies receiving financing from European, Chinese and US banks.
- Air pollution raises risk of type 2 diabetes, says landmark Indian study. Seven-year study of 12,000 residents of Delhi and Chennai finds link between PM2.5 particles and increased blood sugar levels.
- Action to protect against climate crisis ‘woefully inadequate’, UN warns. International funding to shield people from heatwaves, floods and droughts only 5-10% of what is needed, report finds
- In 2023 we’ve seen climate destruction in real time, yet rich countries are poised to do little at Cop28
- Claimants take UK government to court over inadequate climate adaptation. Kevin Jordan, whose home is 5 metres from the cliff edge in Norfolk, says government’s shortcomings breach his human rights.
- Global heating is accelerating, warns scientist who sounded climate alarm in the 80s. Study delivers dire warning although rate of increase is debated by some scientists amid a record-breaking year of heat.
- World ill-prepared to stop climate crisis reversing progress on health, says study. UN meteorological body finds health experts have access to heat warning services in only half of affected countries.
- Action to protect against climate crisis ‘woefully inadequate’, UN warns. International funding to shield people from heatwaves, floods and droughts only 5-10% of what is needed, report finds.
Other Media News
Check out this 12 minute video Can the world go waste-free? 🤔 to see the ideas of the three ‘Earth Shot Prize Build a Waste Free World’ finalists 2023.
- 👕 Circ: A groundbreaking solution to enable the recycling of polycotton fabrics, potentially reducing textile waste by half
- ☀️ S4S Technologies: Using solar-powered machines to extend the life of crops that would otherwise go to waste
- 🌈 Colorifix: A new way to sustainably dye fabrics using nature’s own colours, reducing the fashion industry’s use of harmful chemicals
This weeks ‘Just have a Think’ 16 min video is The money men know THE TRUTH about planetary boundaries! If you want to know the truth, have a watch.