Greater Manchester makes international pledge to tackle climate change

At a summit in Paris, Interim Greater Manchester Mayor Tony Lloyd joined nearly 400 other city mayors from across the globe to make it clear that Greater Manchester will play a leading role in reducing the amount of greenhouse gases being released into the atmosphere.

Tony said:

“As home to the world’s first industrial city, it’s fitting that today Greater Manchester takes a leading role in tackling climate change – one of the biggest threats to our health and way of life.

“By taking these important steps today, we can make sure that our children and future generations are able to live and thrive on our planet, without the increased risk of rising tides or dangerous weather conditions that lead to deadly loss of homes, crops, livestock and wildlife.

“Local actions can have a global impact, and we make this commitment today, not just for the people of Greater Manchester, but for the planet.”

The international coalition of local mayors has agreed to reduce greenhouse gases and track the progress being made to hit targets for the year 2030. By tracking and reporting on this data locally, it’s believed that local areas will feel more accountable for their global footprints and do more to reduce the impact of climate change.

The Climate Summit for Local Leaders in Paris is the largest gathering of mayors, governors and local leaders focused on climate change, and coincides with the United Nations climate change convention, COP21.