Manchester cut its carbon emissions by 12 pc in 2020, according to new data which shows that the city fell short of its targets even during Covid lockdowns. The data published by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) is said to be the most accurate data available on emissions.
It reveals that despite a big drop due to the national lockdown followed by regional restrictions, the city still missed its target of a 13 pc reduction a year. Estimates for 2021 predict that emissions then rose by 6 pc the following year.
Councillors were warned this week that if these latest estimates are correct, Manchester will have already exceeded its five-year carbon budget as a city. Speaking at a Manchester council scrutiny meeting on Thursday (October 13), Labour councillor Annette Wright described the situation as 'absolutely dire'.
