View the actions
There are over 150 actions in Manchester: A Certain Future! Some are actions for businesses, some are small changes we can all make to our everyday lives - in short there’s something for everyone! To help you find the actions that are relevant to you we’ve split them into different ‘themes’ and different ‘sectors’. Click on one of these then get picking which actions work for you!
Actions explained
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Third Sector
Manchester’s Third Sector and Voluntary Organisations are a vital support system for the city, providing opportunities to help people help themselves, provide opportunities for employment and helping people to help themselves.Links
Downloads
- Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Support
- Support and Advice
- Policy and grants
- Sustaining Change
- Community Foundation for Greater Manchester
- Community Network for Manchester
- Greater Manchester Centre for Voluntary Organisation (GMCVO)
- One Central Place
School
It is only through awareness and understanding we develop a low carbon culture. In the plan there are specific actions related to education - "carbon literacy" and "carbon accounting" programmes will feature in our daily lives and low carbon living will become second nature.Links
Downloads
- Environmental Education
- Eco-Schools website
- Manchester Environmental Education Network (MEEN)
- Sustainable Schools pages on the Teachernet
Commercial Landlord
By improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of their portfolio, commercial property owners and developers can stay ahead of competition and environmental regulation.Domestic Landlord
In the coming years, there will be increased demand from tenants wanting warmer and healthier energy efficient homes, which offer lower energy bills and a better standard of living. Find out all about these actions below.Links
Downloads
- The Energy Saving Trust
- The Carbon Trust
- Environmental Business Pledge
- MCC Energy Efficiency Grants
- Planning
- BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method)
- Government website providing information on planning and building
- Department of Energy and Climate Change
- Buildings Research Establishment
- Envirolink Northwest
- Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment
- The UK Green Buildings Council
- The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research
- Association of Greater Manchester Authorities
Public Sector
Organisations, both large and small, will see a difference in how they operate in the future. Leading by example, organisations have the ability to influence behaviour within their own workforce and outside so their capacity to embrace sustainability will be crucial for a low carbon economy.University/College
Education leading to implementation is essential for delivering the actions necessary. Institutions will further research, garner talents and collaborate knowledge and action in a vast array of fields, as is required if we are to nurture a low carbon culture.Business
Good business is firmly becoming focused on responsible business. New legislation will shift the practice of employers and building owners, and those companies not committed to sustainability and environmental concerns will struggle, losing out to more resource efficient competitors.Links
Downloads
Community Group
Communities have the ability to join together and ensure even the smallest changes make a real difference. Community projects, activities and programmes can influence culture and lifestyle change efficiently and effectively.Links
Downloads
- Greater Manchester Voluntary Sector Support
- Manchester City Council advice and guidance
- The Carbon Co-op Manual PDF (Moss Side edition)
- Action for Sustainable Living
- Green Communities
- Global Action Plan Eco Teams
Individual
We all have a part to play in our city's low carbon future. By changing our behaviour and lifestyle bit by bit, we can ensure we live healthier, happier lives without endangering the future of our environment. Find out all about these actions below.Links
Downloads
- Climate Change Northwest
- Met Office Guide
- Direct Gov
- Act on C02
- BBC Bloom
- Oxfam
- Hot Earth
- English Heritage
- Energy Savings Trust
- Action for Sustainable Living
- Carbon Coop
- Global Action Plan
- COIN
- Bollington Carbon Revolution
- Forum for the Future
Events
To be able to market Manchester as a sustainable destination the tourism and event industry needs to be the catalyst for driving change and implementing a framework for sustainable event management.Buildings and Energy
The energy we use in our buildings contributes the largest proportion of our carbon emissions in the city but there are many opportunities for us to reduce these. We must minimise our energy use and generate the energy we do need from local and national low-carbon sources.Links
Downloads
Communications & Engagement
To maximise change and harness existing efforts, it is vital that we all share in what is going around us in this city. This site is ideally placed to reach interested parties, coordinate efforts, increase awareness of the opportunities for action, and to generally engage a wider audience.Transport
A sustainable transport city will be a healthier place to live and work. Cities that stay on the move without producing carbon will be wealthier.Food
Fundamental to our existence is food. Every day provides opportunities to source local quality produce, limiting carbon consumption as far as possible. Opportunities exist for moving towards greater self sufficiency.Land
Manchester’s industrial history is giving way to a climate adapted city of the future. The city’s green space and tree cover will increase year on year. Areas of land that are currently not in use will be used on a temporary or permanent basis to provide green spaces, play areas, community growing sites and wildflower areas.Waste
As greater awareness and understanding of our waste production is attained, steps to produce less waste overall and to maximise the opportunities to recycle this waste are ever increasing. This is essential to ensure our city and communities continue to thrive as we transition to a low carbon culture.Carbon Metrics
Carbon metrics is the measurement of carbon emitted. Once we are able to measure Carbon Emissions we are able to identify areas where cuts can be made.Adaptation
The future forecast for Manchester will see hotter, drier summers and warmer, wetter winters. It is predicted that Greater Manchester will experience more frequent and intense storm activity in the future.-
Investigate and implement the highest standards possible for Planning and Building Control in relation to sustainability measures and increase enforcement capacity to ensure uptake of new regulations
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Achieve the aims of the Low Carbon Economic Area for the Built Environment delivery plan
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Award exemplary buildings with Green Plaques to show their commitment to carbon reduction
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Begin the replacement of road traffic signalling and street lighting with low energy, long life LEDs
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Businesses will sign up to the Environmental Business Pledge
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Businesses will sign up to the highest Carbon Trust standards
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Carry out a co-ordinated Land Audit of the city region to assess current and potential future land use
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Co-ordinate and undertake research to develop an understanding of water flows across the city, including rivers and localised flooding caused by issues such as heavy rainfall
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Commitment to create a Total Carbon Footprint framework by 2013
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Conduct a research project to establish the energy use of different sectors
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Conduct climate change awareness and engagement campaigns and ensure that they are relevant to local communities and neighbourhoods
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Continue to explore the use of a mix of renewable energy sources – including biomass, waste, geothermal, wind and solar power
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Continue to implement community work through the CO2mmunity Challenge and roll out across the whole of Manchester
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Continue to work with the Waste & Resources Action Plan (WRAP) and support the Recycle Now and Love Food Hate Waste campaigns
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Contribute to research into low emission and alternative fuels
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Create a baseline of sustainable food consumption and production and increase year on year to 2020 and beyond
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Create a Business Travel Policy for all types of business and personal travel undertaken by employees, including aviation
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Create a city-wide programme of neighbourhood low carbon zones
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Create a framework of public support, awareness, education and engagement with the residents of Manchester around the need for and benefits of GI
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Create a portfolio of substantial commercial and public sector retrofit projects, which pilot innovation, exemplify best practice.
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Create and support social enterprises to develop the growth of urban agriculture and market gardening
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Create carbon reduction targets for actions where possible
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Create templates for individuals and organisations to show how their plans contribute to MACF
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Create visible public promotions so people can follow progress on carbon reduction
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Deliver the targets in Manchester Airport's Ground Transport Plan and its commitment to becoming carbon neutral in site energy and vehicle fuel by 2015
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Develop a common city-wide pricing and ticketing system for public transport
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Develop a coordinated programme of advice and support on domestic energy efficiency for residents, landlords and building owners.
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Develop a long term programme for retrofitting public and commercial buildings across the city
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Develop a Manchester Design Prize will encourage innovation
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Develop and implement a food sustainability quality mark for the catering and restaurant industry, with carbon reduction as key driver
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Develop and promote a range of high profile building exemplars at 2050 sustainable standards in all categories (domestic, public and commercial) and ages
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Develop communication plans for annual events programme
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Develop communication plans for stakeholders
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Develop digital connectivity in Manchester, maximising the sharing of ideas, information and develop the use of digital technology
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Develop guidance to ensure GI based adaptation measures are considered as part of any new development, and are supported by policies in the LDF where possible
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Develop interchange and storage facilities at public transport and cycling destinations
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Develop measures and incentives to ensure all new developments are zero carbon in terms of both building design and appliances
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Develop networks for sectors and companies to act together on sustainability and develop realistic and effective standards
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Develop programmes of "carbon literacy" education and training in schools, colleges and universities; at all levels in public, private and third sector organisations; and make them available in community groups, neighbourhoods and households
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Develop real time information to make using public transport an easy option
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Develop services for individual smart travel planning, including interactive journey-planning and supporting active travel
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Develop the city region as a centre of excellence for low carbon construction skills
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Develop the infrastructure to enable an increase in local food production, both commercially and within the community.
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Encourage and support businesses to implement their own plans for reducing energy use towards zero/low carbon
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Encourage and support community groups to implement their own plans for reducing energy use towards zero/low carbon communities
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Encourage and support the uptake and development of easy to use Building Management Systems
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Encourage employers and event organisers to help us plan low carbon and low congestion journeys
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Encourage interim use of development sites for local food production
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Encourage schools to promote sustainability with parents and communities
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Encourage zero net external water requirements of external landscapes in new developments
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Endorse the approach of this plan, identifying actions appropriate to your organisation and develop a delivery plan with short and long-term aims.
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Engage with businesses to move towards closed loop production
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Ensure all new homes funded by Government or built by RSLs are in compliance with the escalating Code for Sustainable Homes requirements
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Establish "Green Leases" as an incentive to retrofit and share the benefits between landlords and tenants
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Establish a business emissions reduction strategy for the city
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Establish a coordinated approach to sustainable traffic management across the city region, through the co-operation of the Highways Agency and key partners
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Establish a range of community-based micro-generation projects where energy can be used by local users and/or fed back into national and local grids
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Establish a Sustainable City Region Transport Plan for Greater Manchester
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Establish and implement best measures for aggregated purchasing of energy efficient equipment to make it widely available and encourage energy efficient use
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Establish community development interest initiatives and social enterprises to coordinate the take up of low energy appliances and low carbon technologies for domestic and business use
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Establish Manchester as a centre for "low carbon businesses", creating opportunities in the green collar economy for businesses and individuals and anticipate and influence the market for "low carbon technologies", stimulating innovation and investment
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Explore development of trial biofuel and biomass planting and timber waste fuel production to progress alternative and sustainable energy production
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Green the bus fleet, developing a range of initiatives to encourage improved emissions standards, including contractual arrangements and, potentially, Low Emission Zones
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Identify and develop good practice in resolving legislation for private gardens, including enforcement and regulation to assist in sustainable use of land by individual private owners
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Identify and implement best practice in soil management
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Identify and implement best practice in waterways management to improve water quality and biodiversity and maximise the contribution of water bodies to reduce flood risk and provide irrigation
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Identify best practice in managing GI in response to climate change - using international research as well as local planning and ecology experts
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Identify options to support low emission/alternative fuels, such as locally produced biofuels
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Identify sustainable and innovative options to increase the coverage of public green infrastructure in the city
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Implement a "Better than Decent" programme with the city's social landlords to take their stock beyond "Decent Homes" retrofit
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Implement the Government's food packaging strategy for England
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Improve sustainable access to Manchester Airport
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Improve the performance of vehicle fleets, supporting cleaner-fuelled vehicles, including service points and incentives
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Incorporate appropriate measures and targets for the city's impact in aviation and shipping in the new total carbon footprint approach
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Increase education, skills and awareness among residents about sustainable food through local activity, campaigns and national programmes
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Increase installation of green roofs within the city, both on new developments and retrofitted to existing buildings
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Increase tree coverage in Manchester – including street trees and woodland cover
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Influence, promote and support the embedding of environmental considerations in all areas of the education system
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Install "cool pavement" materials to increase surface reflectivity and rainfall permeability to combat the urban heat island effect and help to reduce the risk of localised flooding
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Install large-scale energy generation and distribution systems to serve large areas of the city
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Install smart meters in homes
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Invest in a City Centre network of Cycle Centres
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Invest in additional rail stock to support rail growth
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Invest in an electric vehicle network, with charging points to be plugged into locally generated energy
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Invest in city-wide car clubs
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Invest in more school buses
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Invest in new cross-city bus infrastructure
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Invest in new initiatives to increase the take up of electric vehicles
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Invest in pedestrian and cycle routes
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Invest in the development of a new generation of sustainable transport options for 2020 and beyond
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Invest in the expansion of the Metrolink
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Investigate potential for reduced business rates to encourage low carbon businesses into city; or aligning business rates with energy efficiency
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Investigate the development of green clauses in the Manchester Landlords' Accreditation Scheme
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Investigate the potential development of performance related incentives for businesses to divert commercial and industrial waste from landfills to alternative waste management processes, particularly re-use and recycling
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Investigate the potential to develop a city-wide approach to sustainable procurement
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It will be routine in organisations for environmental performance to be monitored, reported and managed: the need and opportunity to reduce CO2 emissions will be a standard consideration in all contracts, transactions and projects
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Lobby for the roll out of Display Energy Certificates (DECs) to commercial buildings
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Make progress on CO2 reductions visible through public local indicators, barometers and displays
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Make smart metering widely available through lending programmes at local centres, such as libraries
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Make the case for sustainable transport links from Manchester to the rest of the UK, Europe and beyond, including supporting a high speed rail network.
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Maximise the contribution of gardens and individual/household space to green infrastructure, including advice and training on domestic composting
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Maximise the contribution of gardens and individual/household space to green infrastructure, including advice and training on organic grow your own schemes.
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Maximise the contribution of gardens and individual/household space to green infrastructure, including advice and training on sustainable garden management
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Maximise the number of Supplier Obligation schemes available in Manchester
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Organisations will prepare green transport plans making sustainable transport choices more attractive through better facilities, car share clubs, car pools, subsidised travel cards etc.
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Organisations will sign up to the Buy Recycled Code
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Organise an annual climate change conference for young people so they can discuss future scenarios
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Participate in a "Two Degree Challenge" for commercial building owners and occupiers to turn thermostats up/down depending on the season
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Participate in a "Two-Degree Challenge" to encourage residents to turn thermostats up or down depending on the season
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Produce and deliver a Manchester Energy Plan between partners that provides the framework for establishing a city-wide decarbonised energy generation and distribution system and local energy plans supported by the LDF and Strategic Regeneration Frameworks
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Promote active travel, through campaigns linked to key travel destinations, and develop mechanisms to encourage more people to cycle and walk as part of their own travel plan
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Promote adult bicycle training
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Promote driver awareness and training, including vehicles advice, fuel economy training, car sharing and safety promotion for cyclists and pedestrians
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Promote learning, teaching, evidence and inspiration of 2050 standards of low carbon generation and distribution
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Promote low carbon business practices through existing partnerships and alliances, and dialogue between businesses, property owners and occupiers
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Promote sustainable tourism through the Green Event Guide and a sustainable event management system such as BS 8901, and make the reduction of CO2 a key objective for all major events in the city
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Propose a city region Bus Quality Partnership
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Provide a network of diverse, multi-functional open spaces and identify opportunities to create new wildlife corridors and biodiversity areas
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Provide advice and support to universities, landlords and student groups to increase energy efficiency in student accommodation
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Provide regulation, advice, incentives and investment models for private landlords to retrofit domestic properties.
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Provide usable billing information to inform energy savings
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Reinforce the role of community buildings by making them low carbon neighbourhood hubs promoting the benefits of "low carbon" lifestyles and technologies
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Remediate derelict, underused and neglected land and brownfield spaces into maintained green space
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Research and develop sustainable freight transport options, including use of the region's waterways where appropriate.
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Research and develop sustainable waste transport options, including use of the region's waterways where appropriate.
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Research and establish targets for the Manchester Energy Plan demonstrating how the overall carbon reduction target will be met through the actions
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Research and identify species and habitats that are suited to predicted future climates; including identification of species/habitats that are likely to decline
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Research and implement a loyalty card scheme to encourage people to support local sustainable business
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Research the flow of resources (including goods, waste etc.) throughout the city and beyond and assist in the development of opportunities towards a closed loop system
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Review and improve methods of green space master planning in development, including setting standards for the quality, accessibility and quantity of open space
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Roll-out a pilot Smart Energy Business District to test the application of smart meters to an area of the city dominated by SMEs, with the potential to expand it citywide
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Run a pilot programme of tradeable personal carbon quotas to help encourage changes in lifestyle and behaviour
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Save over 350,000 tonnes of CO2 a year by 2020 through a major programme of retrofitting domestic buildings with energy efficiency and home energy generation measures.
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Seek to be a host for energy management trials including smart grid technologies; peak demand management; intelligent pricing; intelligent appliances; heat storage from excess generation; mixed generation; storage capacity
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Seek to retain and improve existing open spaces, sport and recreation facilities
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Share and promote common "carbon accounting" data throughout the city
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Strengthen financial incentives for building owners and commercial occupiers to reduce their emissions
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Support a programme of retrofitting with advice, incentives and investment models to help homeowners fund projects.
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Support and extend existing community growing projects
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Support innovative use of water for cooling, such as deculverting waterways and using aquifers or surface water for cooling
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Support planning applications that include innovation and investment in sustainable construction
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Support selected large organisations to achieve zero waste to landfill from their buildings by 2020
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Support SMEs in seizing the low carbon business opportunities
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Support the creation of a national scheme to enable consumers to know the carbon footprint of products
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Support the development of a Northwest food plan ensuring it meets the needs of Manchester consumers and businesses, increases the capacity of regional growers and improves the supply chain to enable residents to buy more sustainable food
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Support the Eco Cities project and other research into GI and spatial planning
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Support the growth of repairs and servicing businesses
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Support the introduction of feed-in tariffs in 2010 to encourage local generation of renewable electricity
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Switch off at night to achieve zero energy use in empty buildings
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Undertake a heat mapping exercise to understand the potential to use waste heat within the city
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Use planning agreements so new building development can catalyse retrofit and establish carbon reduction targets in the Local Development Framework to require developers to install and/or contribute to low carbon, de-centralised and renewable energy techn
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Use the media to provide information to enable people to make sustainable decisions regarding the consumption of goods and services
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Utilise MACF website to maximize shared good practice, ideas and contributions
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vAlign MACF with other plans and strategies
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Work to establish further stronger landfill and recycling targets for 2020 and beyond
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Work with partners at the city, city-regional and national level to improve existing infrastructure, existing regulatory frameworks, and policy to help deliver a decarbonised generation and distribution system
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Work with partners in the Northwest to encourage sustainable procurement policies and procedures
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Work with partners to assist in the creation of a toolkit to support schools in achieving sustainable procurement
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