Wider benefits of climate action
Climate action has many benefits. It's not just about lower emissions. It helps us to improve our neighbourhoods, housing and transport. And helps to grow our economy. Here are examples wider benefits for the city delivered by climate action in 2025/26.
Homes that are cheaper to run
We built 444 low-carbon and affordable homes. We also retrofitted 108 homes, with 243 energy-efficiency upgrades. These saved residents around £594 a year on their bills.
Improved energy security
Work progressed on local renewable energy generation and a new way to buy our energy. These will make our supply more secure.
Reliable and clean transport
We’re working to ensure that local transport needs and opportunities are realised. And that they are reflected in the transport plans for the region. There are now five times more places to charge than five years ago. In 2025/26, the number of public charge points per 100,000 residents grew by around 23%.
Cleaner air and better public health
We work with the Bee Network to grow the active travel infrastructure in the city. It helps more people to walk, wheel and cycle. This reduces transport emissions and improves air quality and public health.
More walkable neighbourhoods and better green space
We’re creating more liveable, low-traffic neighbourhoods. They connect homes, community facilities, public transport and active travel using green space. Find out about Ancoats Green and the Mobility Hub.
Enhanced safety and improved quality of life
Improved active travel routes support better health, wellbeing and quality of life. Projects like the upgraded Yellow Brick Road improve access, surfaces and drainage. They make the routes easier and safer to use – boosting access to nature.
Increased biodiversity, cleaner waterways and more sustainable land use
The city’s growth and regeneration supports work to enhance biodiversity and green and blue spaces. Over ten years, around £250million has been invested in parks, waterways and public space. That has come from Council programmes, partnerships, developer contributions and external funding.
More resilience to extreme weather and other climate change impacts
Projects to improve the public realm also tackle the impacts of severe weather. Namely, heat and flooding. In Withington, recent improvements have included street trees and raingardens. Trees are a vital element of climate resilience. They can provide shade and absorb storm water. In 2025/26, more than 2,800 trees were planted in the city.
Economic growth and green jobs
We want to help residents and businesses to prepare for opportunities in a growing green economy. We work with partners to improve access to training, jobs and business support. We want to ensure young people know what jobs this sector can offer – and how to get them. Careers events and school engagement reached more than 10,000 local people in 2025/26.
Check our progress. Find out what we're doing. And be part of it. Go to www.manchester.gov.uk/zero-carbon.