Net Zero North West publishes manifesto
The industry-led cluster group’s aspirations include creating more than 600,000 jobs, speeding up decarbonisation, and achieving net zero emissions by 2040.
North West Metro Mayors, Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram, shared their thoughts on how the manifesto could influence the region’s infrastructure and development going forward, at the launch event at the Siemens building in Manchester.
Ambition
The manifesto lays out hopes of securing billions of pounds to invest in decarbonising major industry in the North West.
Changes to transport infrastructure and training up the future workforce to be ready for greener employment opportunities are among the shared ambitions of political and industry leaders.
Speaking to Place North West at the event, Net Zero North West chief executive Ged Barlow said the document is a call to central government to step up and match private sector funding to drive projects forward.
Political support
In his speech, Greater Manchester Mayor Burnham said the North West could produce double the energy to sustain itself and become a net green exporter to the rest of the country, and the world.
He added the North could “re-industrialise in a good way”, and while there may be “wobbles” politically at a national level, this region would not “flinch” from the challenge.
Burnham pointed to the retrofitting of homes, a cluster of activity to decarbonise Trafford Park, and plans to harness tidal energy in Merseyside, as part of the ongoing efforts to change.
Liverpool City Region Mayor Rotheram said the tidal energy project could have a 120-year lifespan, adding the region’s railways, docks, and canals could also be the gateway to a green industrial revolution in the North.
Rotheram spoke of Liverpool’s ambition to have a carbon-free bus fleet, adding that if just a fraction of the Net Zero North West manifesto comes to fruition it will be “transformational”.
After the launch both mayors spoke to Place to explain why they backed the manifesto, and their hopes for it.
Andy Burnham and Steve Rotheram speak at the Net Zero North West manifesto launch. Credit: Joe Roper, Agent
Andy Burnham
“We need as a region to articulate the opportunity, both businesses and political leaders together, and this manifesto does that. It presents it very plainly, over 600,000 good green jobs.
“It’s a window of opportunity, and if we don’t move quickly they’ll go elsewhere so Net Zero North West is a collaboration that is right for the moment that we’re in, and hopefully something which will influence policy at the next parliament.
“If you look at construction methods, you look at the building of a new generation of net zero homes, that change is happening.
“Is there a skills system that is responsive and adaptable to that change? At the moment I don’t think there is a system. It’s a fragmented landscape.
“Greater Manchester has the ambition to create the UK’s first integrated technical education system, that will be employer-driven, so employers will drive what goes on in the colleges, the content of the T-Levels.
“We have a particular gateway within that system for construction and the green economy, so after the focus on the Bee Network this term, the big focus of my next term if I’m re-elected will be a new template for how technical education can be properly structured, and to create an alternative to the university route for our young people.”
Steve Rotheram delivered a speech at the Net Zero North West manifesto launch. Credit: Joe Roper, Agent
Steve Rotheram
“It needs a bit of both (private and public sector investment).
“What it needs is a vision. It needs somebody to at least match our aspirations for the area.
“If there is to be a change of government, as most people believe there will be, then we want somebody who will back some of these huge ambitions, we have to achieve hundreds and thousands of jobs.
“To do that you need a skills strategy to make sure innovation is built in to everything we want to do.
“We need transport to be reformed and updated, all those little bits coming together to make this deliverable. The benefits of the North West are huge.”
Fantastic stuff!
By Rich
There is no way “It presents it very plainly, over 600,000 good green jobs”. At least as many will be lost in fossil fuel jobs and by making energy really expensive the number of jobs and activities in the economy will be permanently lower if not negative – net zero ambitions – especially if they are carried out to quickly will have a massively damaging impact
By Stuart wood
Seriously someone needs to tell Steve that tidal barrages have had their day.
Can he focus on getting us a proper tram system instead of his bendy bus idea and listen to his leader about onshore wind power.
By Anonymous
Burnham and Rotherham have very little power to achieve this. All these ideas will need backing from our London masters, and they are only interested in Guildford.
By Elephant
Until there’s a public backlash and Burnham u-turns again
By Gilly
Who do our political leaders continue trying to impoverish the country with net zero nonesense while the major global polluters laugh at us from afar?
By Eco realist