Empowering local climate change action and shaping local authority policy through adoption of carbon budgets

Impact: Policy, Environmental

Narrative

A Tyndall-Manchester methodology to translate carbon budgets from global to local and sectoral scales has enabled local authorities (LAs) in the UK to develop ‘Paris Agreement compliant’ climate change strategies and policies. As a direct result, five major city regions have adopted new, ambitious strategies on climate change. This has shaped the operating approach of commercial and public sector organisations within these areas, changing their policies, processes and practices.
Tyndall-Manchester’s research has led to a shift in focus from long term 2050 targets to prioritise immediate action to cut emissions in the climate change plans in LAs covering circa 18% of the UK population. In a single combined authority, the research has shaped plans that include GBP40,000,000,000 of investment over 20 years. Tyndall-Manchester’s Local Carbon Budget Tool is being used by 250 LAs and has been approved for inclusion in the United Nations’ Race to Zero initiative.
Impact date1 Aug 2013 → 31 Jul 2020
Category of impactPolicy, Environmental
Impact levelAdoption

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Energy
  • Policy@Manchester
  • Sustainable Futures
  • Thomas Ashton Institute
  • Manchester Urban Institute
  • Manchester Institute for Collaborative Research on Ageing
  • Manchester Environmental Research Institute

Documents & Links

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