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The Five-Year Environment Plan
Our Plan sets out the urgent actions all of us need to take.
Our vision for Greater Manchester can only be achieved if everyone commits to taking action. The Five-Year Environment Plan focuses on key priorities and the key parts of our daily lives where action is required. The approach taken is underpinned by 5 key principles. It is a plan…
- For all of us
- Focussed on urgent action
- Visionary
- Ambitious
- To be reported on
Together we can make a big difference.
Read our new Five-Year Environment Plan
Five year plan for individuals
Every day we all make choices that affect our environment, from the way we travel, to what we buy and how we heat our homes. If we all changed just one habit to be ‘greener’ it would make a big difference to the environment, your health, and could even save you money too!rnrnTake a look at how you can help.
50% of all journeys to be made by bike, foot or using public transport by 2040
To plant 3 million trees in Greater Manchester by 2035
Restore 50-75% of our peatland
Retrofit measures installed at 61,000 homes every year
By 2035 we aim for all cars to have zero emissions, making Greater Manchester a greener, cleaner place to live
Achieve a recycling rate of 65% by 2035
Half of all homes to have solar panels covering 16 square metres. That’s the same size as 7000 Olympic size swimming pools
To move away from gas boilers. So less than 35% of homes are heated by gas
60% of homes and business using low carbon heating like heat pumps and solar energy
- Reduce the amount of waste you produce and use reusable products
- Cut down the amount of plastic you use
- Buy sustainable products
- Look at alternatives to purchasing large items such as lease agreements or take back schemes
- Recycle as much as you can
- Reduce the amount of food you waste
- Support local food growing and redistribution alternatives and organisations
- Get the basics right – including LED lighting and draught-proofing
- Upgrade your home insulation – loft, cavity wall and draught
- Think about whole house retrofit, particularly if carrying out renovations
- Promote community retrofit schemes
- Install renewable energy at your home
- Switch to a renewable energy supplier
- Plan now for when you next need to replace your current heating systemWalk and cycle for short journeys
- Walk and cycle for short journeys
- Use public transport for longer journeys
- Cut costs, congestion, parking problems and pollution by sharing a car with a colleague or friend.
- Switch off your engine when at a standstill
- Buy an electric car – if you do, make sure you are on the right electricity tariff
- If you have a garden or an allotment, manage this for wildlife
- Visit, spend time and be active in local green and blue spaces
- Volunteer for projects that protect or improve the environment in your local area
Five year plan for businesses
As a business in Greater Manchester your actions can make a big difference. By making a few small changes to become greener you will be helping to create a clean, carbon neutral, climate resilient city-region with a thriving natural environment and circular, zero-waste economy.rnrnTake a look at how your business can help.
50% of all journeys to be made by bike, foot or using public transport by 2040,
To plant 3 million trees in Greater Manchester by 2035
Restore 50-75% of our peatland
100%. BY 2035 all cars to have zero emissions.
550 onshore wind turbines to be installed by 2050.
100% of all buses to have zero emissions by 2035.
By 2025, 10% reduction in heating and cooling demand from existing commercial and public buildings
38% reduction in industrial emission by 2025
Achieve a recycling rate of 65% by 2035.
Business and commercial premises to have a total of 5.5 square kilometres of solar panels on rooftops or in ground-mounted installations. That’s the size of 770 football pitches.
A 4.5 times increase in current biomass energy delivering around 4 terawatt hours per year. That’s enough energy to power 100 LED bulbs for 1 million years.
60% of homes and business using low carbon heating like heat pumps and solar energy.
- Install renewable energy generation at your premises and partner with community energy groups
- Switch to a renewable energy supplier
- Access energy related business support from the Growth Company
- Plan now for when you are next due to replace your heating system
- Sign up to the Net Zero Carbon Buildings commitment
- Measure, report on and improve the operational energy efficiency of premises, coming together within sectors to do so.
- Consider greener, more energy efficient premises when current or future contracts require renewal.
- Engage with landowners and tenants over key issues like data sharing, energy efficiency measures and green energy.
- Review your processes to look where you can make efficiencies in design and production.
- Make sure sustainability is part of your procurement policy
- Take action to reduce the amount of food your organisation wastes
- Support local food growing and redistribution initiatives and organisations
- Support your employees in doing the right thing, encouraging flexible working and use of public transport, cycling, walking and car-sharing.
- Switch your car and van fleets to electric vehicles and consider charging infrastructure
- When replacing other vehicles, purchase the least polluting and most efficient model
- Maintain your fleet to minimise emissions
- Manage any gardens or land for wildlife
- Put in place green roofs, green walls and plant trees.
- Invest in Greater Manchester’s natural environment
- Promote environmental volunteering amongst your employees
- Check if you are at risk of flooding and sign up for flood warnings
- If in a flood risk area, make your premises more resilient and link up with neighbouring properties.
- Check if you have the right level of insurance
- Put in place green roofs, green walls and plant trees
- Use water efficiently and install a water meter
Full 5-Year Environment Plan 2025-30
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