Question time with Andy Burnham
A panel including Greater Manchester’s Mayor, Andy Burnham, who arrived after a morning at the Conservative Party Conference, also taking place in Manchester this week, took to the stage in the morning to address a range of audience questions. Here’s what the panel discussed.
How are you working to achieve net zero by 2038?
Andy Burnham focussed on GM’s latest action to bring busses back under public control and release a fleet of 50 electric busses covering routes across the region. Greater Manchester’s Bee Network has been a source of pride for the city, with a fleet of low-emission, affordable busses keeping the region connected.
Ian Smith, ENWL, also discussed the electrification of the Bee Network busses, an electrification scheme which he proudly stated “was delivered on time and within budget.” Ian also discussed ENWL’s Smart Street scheme, “a project which aims to deliver innovative voltage techniques across the region, such as voltage control technology.”
The purpose of the project is to combine new technology with existing assets to build an efficient network management system which ensures that new green technologies reliant on the grid, such as EV charge points, are managed effectively and sustainably.
Ian also discussed ENWL’s innovative Net Zero Terrace project targeting “social housing for green retrofit, including heat pumps, insulation, and solar panels.” This is a community engagement project aiming to create a scalable and accessible model to decarbonise heat and energy use across the social housing sector.
Amy House, Director of Green Economy, asked: “What role do you see innovation and behaviour change playing in helping Greater Manchester achieve its net zero goals?”
Andy Burnham answered first, highlighting skills and technical education as his primary focus for ensuring decarbonisation projects have the necessary workforce to be delivered.
“We’ve launched the Greater Manchester Baccalaureate (GMB) which creates a pathway for school-leavers to access technical education if the academic, university route isn’t for them. This will involve a focus on T-Levels and Apprenticeships which get young people into hands-on roles within the green sector.”
He suggested that the GMB will tackle skills shortages within the green sector which may hinder innovation if not addressed, highlighting that education and upskilling presents key gateway for young people into low carbon sectors.
Ian Smith, ENWL, spoke on the necessity of decarbonising commercial and residential buildings. He discussed the current construction techniques which have long been “dependent on energy intensive and fossil-fuel reliant techniques, meaning a behavioural change as to how we heat our homes, generate hot water, and get electricity to our buildings is essential for uncovering and adopting newer low carbon techniques.”
In addition, Ian championed integrated technologies as a multi-faceted decarbonisation tool, such as pairing EVs with solar, or effective insulation with heat pumps. This type of progress seems dependent on greater information and a sizeable behavioural shift to educate businesses and households on the types of green technologies that are accessible to them and can be paired to cut carbon effectively,
Erin Baker, Auto Trader UK, discussed innovation within the automotive industry. She highlighted the progress regarding innovation and R&D within the transport industry. However, she stated “a behavioural change among businesses and consumers is essential for ensuring this innovation is used effectively and continues to progress.”
Some examples of this behavioural change surround EVs, such as addressing range anxiety with clear charge point mapping and filling battery-life knowledge gaps with accessible educational resources and public information.
