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Green Summit 2023

Greater Manchester’s Green Summit 2023 was held at The Lowry Theatre, Salford Quays on Monday 2nd October, hosted by the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham. It saw delegates meet and network with others determined to drive change and help the city-region meet its ambitious goals for the environment, with panels, workshops networking and exhibition stands showcasing challenges, solutions and opportunities.

You can rewatch the full main plenary below:

Green Summit 2023 live stream

Our workshops

In addition to the main plenary sessions, the event saw us host several workshops, bringing together partners to dive into a wide range of key topics, challenges and opportunities:

Bee Net Zero: How to accelerate and profit from your business’s transition to Net Zero

Hosted by the Bee Net Zero campaign, the aim of the workshop was to discuss how we can get businesses in Greater Manchester to decarbonise quicker than they are currently.  Feedback was also requested to identify the main barriers and how we can overcome them.

No PowerPoint presentation is available for this workshop.  

 

Solutions for stuff – Waste prevention and sustainable procurement for the public sector

Hosted by Suez and Eunomia, the aim of the workshop was to encourage and support local authorities and public sector organisations to deliver practical solutions to developing a more circular, resource efficient approach in their organisation, going beyond recycling and including effective behavioural change programmes, collaborative working and how to use public procurement to deliver waste prevention and a net zero circular economy.

PowerPoint presentation available on request.

 

Our future green workforce

This workshop, hosted by Manchester Metropolitan University, featured thought leaders, business and recent graduates from the region who are already one step ahead in re-imagining and delivering our future green workforce. The session explored how traditional versus innovative routes into education impact the skills needed for a greener future; how we fuel the talent for a hydrogen economy; and what’s really possible for a more sustainable world.

PowerPoint presentation available on request.

 

Greater Manchester’s Local Nature Recovery Strategy

Hosted by GMCA Natural Environment Team, this workshop asked attendees to think about the many opportunities for nature recovery across Greater Manchester. The session delivered ‘big pitches of opportunities’ for nature recovery rather than detailed understanding of the forthcoming nature recovery strategy or project specific case studies. Participants were asked to vote for each idea via live voting.

PowerPoint presentation available on request.

 

Embracing the Bee Network – Peer advice on sustainable travel

The session, delivered by Transport for Greater Manchester, focused on how we can empower residents, employees and businesses to take action to embrace the change and use viable and low or zero emission travel alternatives to the car.

PowerPoint presentation available on request.

 

Walkshop: Greener, Fairer Spaces and Places

Hosted by GM Moving, this ‘Walkshop’ took place on the move around Media City. Whilst covering 2 miles, the guided walk explored the urban environment through the lens of a greener, fairer Greater Manchester and how we can all play our role to shape our  environment to better adapt to and mitigate against the climate crisis and to promote Good and Active Lives for All.

No presentation was used, however find out more about GM Moving and their work: Home | Greater Manchester Moving (gmmoving.co.uk)

The Long Table:  What does climate change mean to you?

Hosted by the GM Ageing Hub and Rochdale Council, this session was an opportunity to experience a participatory method for public dialogue to support shifting thinking, mediating tension, and making space for the voices less easily heard.  The free-flowing intergenerational ‘dinner party’ was rich in conversation on climate change and encouraged the sharing of personal hopes, fears and experiences on climate change.

No PowerPoint presentation available.

 

It’s electrifying! Decarbonising transport, one journey at a time

Hosted by Auto Trader, this session looked at how we can improve transport choices for businesses, their employees and Greater Manchester as a whole. The session helped attendees understand how to centre environmentally friendly vehicle and journey choices central to decarbonisation plans.

PowerPoint presentation available on request.

 

Integrated Water Management, How to Play the Game!

Hosted by GMCA, Environment Agency and United Utilities, this session provided an introduction to Greater Manchester’s trailblazing Integrated Water Management Plan – this interactive activity helped to bring the newly launched Integrated Water Management planning to life. The session covered the challenges and benefits of this approach, breaking down silos between organisations to achieve climate resilience, nature recovery, flood management, environmental enhancement and making more liveable places for our communities.

PowerPoint presentation available on request.

 

Investing in Greater Manchester’s Natural Environment

Hosted by the Greater Manchester Environment Fund, this session introduced the many ways that the Greater Manchester Environment Fund is helping nature recover, and how businesses and other investors can play a part to help finance nature-based solutions.  The session also provided information on how businesses and individuals can get involved.

PowerPoint presentation available on request.

 

Low Carbon Just a Minute

Hosted by various members of the GMCA Low Carbon Challenge Group, this session provided an update on how regional businesses are helping to deliver decarbonisation to meet the 2038 carbon neutral target.

No PowerPoint presentation available.  

 

Young Voices: On Food Waste and Hidden Hunger

Hosted by Youth Focus North West, and featuring the voices of young people from the region, this session covered issues related to food waste Issues, hidden hunger and its effect on our planet and people. It provided practical solutions to everyday issues to resolve life altering problems and reduce our household food waste and how making small changes at home can help to move towards a more sustainable, affordable and circular food economy.

PowerPoint presentation available on request.

Follow our Green Summit preview content

In the weeks running up to the event we published a wide range of blogs and previews here on the Green City website to help get delegates thinking – click here to find out more

Our sponsors

A big thank you to all our sponsors for helping make the Greater Manchester Green Summit possible.

Green Summit 2022

Take a look back at Green Summit 2022 with sessions, speakers and a recording of the main stage.

Take a look

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

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