What is the council doing?

Salford City Council recognises that climate change is now accepted as a reality which we need to address.

Salford's climate change strategy is a statement of commitment intended to address the challenges of climate change, the strategy has three purposes:

To provide a framework for action
To encourage good practice and partnership working between organisations
To demonstrate a range of action that is already taking place across Salford

Salford's climate change strategy deals with:

Carbon reduction - reducing our emissions of greenhouse gases
Climate adaptation - ensuring that we are considering the impact of climate change and how we can deal with it
Behavioural change - raising awareness and educating about the challenges posed by climate change

The key areas of focus are:

Transport and travel
Housing
The economy
Regeneration
Wasting less
Understanding the impacts of climate change
Adapting services and places
Raising awareness and educating

The strategy covers the council as a business unit, managing our own estate, as a regulator and policy maker and as a community leader, working with communities and partners.

Carbon management plan

The council's carbon management plan outlines the city council's commitment to an aspirational 40% reduction in CO² and identifies the best opportunities to reduce CO² most effectively. It represents a programme of physical projects and a programme of behavioural change that will challenge every member of staff to reducing our carbon footprint and greenhouse gas emissions.

Carbon management savings

Salford City Council continues to invest in energy efficiency which has already reduced it's carbon emissions. Total CO2 saving via the Carbon Management plan up to end of December 2016 = 33.11% - equivalent to a reduction of 13,555 Tonnes of CO2 since 2007 and now saves the council well over £100,000 a year in energy bills.

Solar panels on council buildings

Over 100 photo-voltaic solar panels have been installed at the Civic Centre in Swinton, which will help cut the council's electricity bills and its carbon footprint. The £50,000 investment will also help generate over £14,000 per year through the feed in tariff and by powering lights and computers at the centre. The new system is expected to cut the council's CO² emissions by 15 tonnes per year and to generate 27,600 kilowatt hours of electricity each year. Over 20 years the panels will save £286,000 and avoid CO² emissions of 296 tonnes.

Street lighting

In 2011 a pilot retrofit of 2,000 LED street lights were fitted across 300 streets in Salford. Following the initial pilot retrofit of 2,000 LED street lights across Salford, Salford City Council approved the fitting of a further 24,000 street lights by Urban Vision. Figures suggest a 23% decrease in carbon emissions. This is a reduction in CO2 emissions of 1,643 tonnes per year.

Green Wheels

Green Wheels is a council programme to encourage staff to play their part in tackling climate change and promoting sustainability, by making sustainable travel choices when travelling to, from and during work.

The main aims of the plan are: