A brand-new guide to help Manchester's cultural organisations go green has been launched this week in a bid to ensure that all businesses and groups based in the city are doing everything they can to help Manchester achieve its aim to be zero carbon by 2038.
The on-line guide has been produced for the Council by Julie’s Bicycle, a not-for-profit supporting environmental action across the cultural and creative community. Its development was informed by discussions with a group of 16 of the city's cultural organisations, many of them members of GMAST (Greater Manchester Arts Sustainability Team). It outlines measures big and small that arts and culture organisations can take to reduce their carbon footprint.
Culture is in Manchester's DNA. From artists and makers, studios to digital labs, community arts centres to multi-arts venues, and indoor and outdoor festivals, arts and culture are at the heart of the city's vitality and prosperity and make a massive contribution to the well-being of residents and visitors alike.
As the city's efforts to achieve zero carbon by 2038 gather pace however, it's vital that organisations across Manchester in every sphere of city life play their part in limiting the impact of climate change, and consider the well-being not just of people but of the planet.
The zero carbon culture guide has been created to specifically help local arts and cultural organisations do just that - reduce their impacts whilst at the same time helping create a healthy, green, sustainable city where everyone can thrive.
The comprehensive guide provides both inspiration and a tailored step-by-step guide to the kind of direct action cultural and creative organisations in the city can take, depending on the kind of organisation they are and what they do.
It sets out the Council's expectations and targets alongside a detailed checklist of key actions that can be taken to reduce emissions - with a focus on actions which can be taken to reduce impacts or do things in a better way for the planet without incurring major costs and without major capital investment. It also signposts organisations to relevant resources such as on carbon reduction and carbon literacy training.
The numerous suggestions in the guide cover every aspect of a cultural organisation's operation across key priority areas - from buildings, new developments and construction, renewable energy, transport, flying, reducing re-using and recycling stuff, to the things they buy and throw away, food, green space and gardens, and water conservation.
It aims to be a one-stop shop for the city's arts and cultural organisations to become zero carbon and includes detailed action plans - some of which are bespoke solutions for the sector - for each area of their organisation in which they are looking to make changes.
Measures range from the sector specific such as ensuring sets and installations are designed for minimal waste or can be re-used, to the more general such as re-using and recycling water, installing low energy lighting and solar panels, storing data in the cloud, hiring local staff, virtual meetings, offering plant-based food options in cafes, sourcing supplies locally, and many more.
In line with the Council's Climate Change Action Plan 2020-25, cultural organisations funded by the Council will be required to produce and report on their own carbon reduction plan as part of their funding agreement.
Councillor Luthfur Rahman OBE, Deputy Leader Manchester City Council, said: "Manchester is, as we all know, home to some of the best cultural and arts organisations on the planet, and so we're asking all of them, the big, the small, and the in-between, for the sake of the planet to take a close look at everything they do and work out how they can become a zero hero and do it in a greener, more sustainable way. A way that keeps Manchester's amazing arts and culture scene front and centre on the world's stage, but that also protects the interests of all of us moving forwards.
"We've only got one planet, and one chance at this to get it right. We know how much artists and audiences love an encore, so let's work together to make sure future generations can still enjoy them."
Action taken by the Council has already seen its direct carbon emissions reduce by 54% in the ten years leading up to 2020, but there is still much more to be done both within the local authority and the city as a whole, and the council is asking organisations across Manchester to take action now and help ensure its zero carbon target of 2038 at the latest is met.
Claire Buckley, Environmental Sustainability Consultant, Julie's Bicycle, said: "We've worked with the council over the last few years to support their work to understand, drive, and support environmental action through city events and culture. We're delighted to see the latest outcome of our collaboration in the shape of the Zero Carbon Culture guide."
Manchester's Zero Carbon Culture guide can be downloaded here
The Council also has a series of Sustainable Events guides which provide carbon reduction support and guidance to event organisers, suppliers, service providers and venues in the city. The suite of guides includes a host of information on all aspects of event organisation including a guide on reusable cups.