News

You are here: News
GM Green City
Published: 01/02/2021
News
How to Keep Up With the Climate Conversation

Welcome to the last in our blog series about keeping up with the climate debate. There are so many resources out there so we’re here to show you the best places to go to make sure you find the stories that really speak to you.

Read
GM Green City
Published: 21/01/2021
News
7 Ways to Keep in Touch With Climate Activism

We’re back for our second round-up of the best environmental podcasts, shows and accounts to follow if you’re a young climate activist!

Read
Greater Manchester landscape
GM Green City
Published: 14/01/2021
News
IGNITION: How Do People Feel About Greenspace?

Is Greater Manchester in love with its local nature-based solutions? The IGNITION project asked GM’s citizens what they really feel about our local landscape.

Read
Two people sitting on moors above reservoir
GM Green City
Published: 14/01/2021
News
Top Picks for Youth Climate Activists

Get switched on to climate change in 2021 with some of the best articles, videos and causes for young environmentalists.

Read
Turbines on moorland
GM Green City
Energy
Published: 11/01/2021
News
Government sets out plans for clean energy system

The government has published long-awaited plans for shifting away from fossil fuel energy in the coming years, providing a vision of what our future clean energy system will look like.

Read
Man using forklift for heavy box
GM Green City
Published: 11/01/2021
News
Going green through automation: In Conversation with MW Fulfilment

Mike Walls, Managing Director at warehousing services firm MW Fulfilment, tells us about his switch to sustainable packaging and how automated scanning software is transforming his business.

Read
Greater Manchester landscape
GM Green City
Published: 08/01/2021
News
FREE WEBINAR: Biodiversity Net Gain in Greater Manchester

Professionals working on the delivery of Biodiversity Net Gain Greater Manchester will want to sign up for this new webinar.

Read
Satellite image of Earth
GM Green City
Published: 09/12/2020
News
CLIMATE AMBITION SUMMIT – Saturday 12th December

On December 12th, the UK, UN and France will co-host the Climate Ambition Summit, in partnership with Chile and Italy, on the fifth anniversary of the landmark Paris Agreement.

Read
GM Green City
Energy
Housing
Published: 09/12/2020
News
Construction begins on ground-breaking Energy House

The University of Salford’s cutting-edge Energy House 2.0 will allow researchers and technology developers to test energy use in houses built inside two giant weather-controlled chambers.

Read
GM Green City
Published: 30/11/2020
News
Joining the Dots: The Value of Critical Friends

With 12 partners already working on Greater Manchester’s IGNITION project, what insight can critical friends bring to the table to combat the climate emergency? Amanda Skeldon, IGNITION project Campaign Manager at Business in the Community explains.

Read
Woman installing roof insulation
GM Green City
Published: 30/11/2020
News
Events workers retraining for retrofit in Greater Manchester

An innovative new project established by a theatre technician in Manchester is helping struggling events workers to tackle the climate crisis by retraining in energy efficient home retrofit.

Read
GM Green City
Published: 20/11/2020
News
IGNITION: Overcoming the challenges

Urban Innovative Actions (UIA) Fund External Expert – Birgit Georgi looks at the key challenges facing the IGNITION Project.

Read

Take action…

To make a big change, we must all take small actions. Becoming greener and making an impact is easier than you might think. We have put together a range of blogs, articles, toolkits and checklists to help you make a start.

Explore resources

Although we set out with a simple mission to reduce plastic waste, we’ve quickly realised that it’s just one piece in the sustainability puzzle. One of the biggest, but most easily attainable actions we can achieve is to look at where our goods come from and reduce the carbon footprint needed to get a product from manufacturer to consumer. Many of the products we stock are made by local, independent manufactures, who provide us with a wide range of things from reusable face wipes, wax food wraps, face coverings, soap bars, plant pots, kitchen cloths/sponges and butty bags.

Carl from Lentils and Lather

Our aim is to start changing the habits of families in Greater Manchester by getting them to ‘borrow’ rather than ‘buy’ brand new toys. We’re making sure that toys can be reused again and again by children who need and want them – and they are not just sitting in a cupboard or under someone’s bed.

Kim from That Toy Thing

The best part of upcycling is that old furniture is often better made than the equivalent flat-packed furniture we get today and with a little bit of time, love and care, you can create a completely unique piece of furniture for your home that no one else will have. I also love that these pieces of furniture have a history of their own and through transforming and updating them we can breathe a new lease of life into them.

Hannah from Tread Softly

The Green Recovery Challenge Fund is providing a further boost to the ambitions of the Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership to create a thriving, inspirational and connected landscape. It supports the recovery of wildlife through habitat creation and improvement as well as community recovery through providing opportunities for local people to develop skills, knowledge and beneficial connections to their local natural environment.

Jo Kennedy, Coordinator of the Great Manchester Wetlands Partnership

The reason I signed up to the Green Homes Grant scheme was two-fold, selfishly the measures will add value to the properties and make them more valuable in the future. But more importantly it benefits the tenants, keeping them warmer and prevents problems like damp and condensation. Ultimately measures like external wall insulations should keep tenants happier and ensure they remain in the house for longer.

Neil, Rochdale property owner

We used to think we didn’t have enough time to shop on our local market because we were working; how wrong we were?  We discovered it is an amazing place to shop for plastic free. We swapped tea bags for tea leaves and coffee jars for beans which we buy from The Market Grounds on Ashton Market – well worth a visit as the homemade cakes are delicious. All the stall holders have been amazing, not one of them minds us taking our containers to be filled with meat from the butchers. We get our bread, cheese, fruit and veg from the market too.

Julie from Ashton-under-Lyne

Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

Although becoming carbon neutral is important to our organisation, it’s a lot of work for a small team to put the measures into place. The Journey to Net Zero course has given me practical, step-by-step advice that has made it easy for me to lay the foundations for our organisation to be able to take action and achieve our goal of becoming carbon neutral.

Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

Kat Mulhall, Events Manager at Victoria Baths Trust in Manchester

The Business Growth Hub has given us focus and extra knowledge. They’ve helped us form the base to grow sustainably and work efficiently as a team while making us conscious of our environmental impact as a business.

 

Ollie Birchall, Founder of Nutri Bar

I’ve not really been a cyclist throughout my life, more of a runner to be honest. And certainly not commuted. But I just thought if I’m going to change, surely now is the moment to change. I’m feeling the personal benefits of doing it. You just feel better when you come into work. It clears your head. There are benefits of cutting congestion, cleaning up the air. Everyone benefits when people cycle.

Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

We think our water fountain is INCREDIBLE, it’s the perfect place for people to ‘refill’ and help themselves to any of the free edibles we’ve got growing in Market Place. We’re so grateful to all the organisations that helped make this happen. Alongside the plastic free motion that was passed by council and helped us achieve our first Surfers Against Sewage objective and in turn our Plastic Free Community status, it shows real commitment in reducing plastic waste and supporting our community.

 

Pete Fillery, Plastic Free Rammy and Incredible Edible Ramsbottom

I guess I’ve always been what you would call a conscious consumer. I’ve always detested plastic bags, all of my skin care products at home are plastic-free, vegan, and sustainable. My toothbrush is made of bamboo, there’s no plastic anywhere in the house. Everything in the salon has to be vegan – that was the first rule for me. We started with one brand of haircare products that was vegan, organic, and Fairtrade, but the distributor in the UK was wrapping all of the deliveries in plastic, and it felt really needless, so we ditched them.

 

Rachael, Gronn eco-salon in Bury

Although becoming carbon neutral is important to our organisation, it’s a lot of work for a small team to put the measures into place. The Journey to Net Zero course has given me practical, step-by-step advice that has made it easy for me to lay the foundations for our organisation to be able to take action and achieve our goal of becoming carbon neutral.

 

Kat Mulhall, Victoria Baths Trust, Manchester

GM Green City Logo