View the In Our Nature website for more information 

A new programme to help households and communities in Manchester live more sustainably in response to the Climate Emergency will launch in May 2021 thanks to significant funding secured by The National Lottery's Climate Action Fund and a collaboration between environmental charity Hubbub, Manchester Climate Change Agency, Manchester City Council with support from The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research and Amity CIC.

The programme will see local initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint rolled out across Manchester - from community fridges and urban greening projects to initiatives promoting energy efficiency, cycling and walking, reuse, repair and recycling.  The projects will be led by a diverse range of local people from the community including local community groups, education establishments and faith institutions and will be supported by positive city-wide communications offering residents practical steps they can take to live in ways that are better for the environment. 

The National Lottery's Climate Action Fund has awarded a development grant to the programme alongside funding from Esmée Fairbairn Foundation, Garfield Weston Foundation, Wates Family Enterprise Trust and a coalition of corporate partners including the Co-op, Suntory Beverage Food GB&I and Coca-Cola GB. The programme is seeking to bring on board further local and national partners to make this a truly collaborative, cross-sector response to the climate emergency.

The programme will explore the potential of residents and communities to respond positively to the climate emergency, followed by the creation of a toolkit of tried and tested initiatives that can be replicated by communities across Manchester and the UK. Activities will be measured by an independent evaluation partner and results will be shared openly.

The programme will initially focus on the areas of Hulme, Moss Side and Rusholme, Newton Heath and Miles Platting, Levenshulme, and the Northern Quarter, and will involve projects designed to help residents save money, save carbon, improve their health and wellbeing, strengthen community cohesion and resilience, make life easier and create more spaces for the community to enjoy.

The programme will support the target set by Manchester City Council to be a zero-carbon city by 2038 or before – 12 years earlier than the national 2050 target. To achieve this citywide, emissions will need to reduce by 13 per cent every year until 2038. Supporting residents and communities to take action is a crucial part of achieving this ambition.