Net Zero North West has unveiled its ground-breaking manifesto aimed at making the region the world’s first net zero cluster, with backing from Greater Manchester metro mayor Andy Burnham and Liverpool City Region metro mayor, Steve Rotheram.
Net Zero North West is a collaboration of industry leaders, politicians and academic experts all joined together by one central goal – to drive the North West’s potential to be a global leader in industrial decarbonisation.
Job creation
The much-anticipated manifesto, announced today by Net Zero North West, is set to create and safeguard over 600,000 jobs, while highlighting the action needed to substantially decarbonise regional industry by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2040.
A global leader
The roadmap includes plans for greater energy efficiency, nuclear energy generation and improved rail infrastructure, enabling the region to lead the UK’s charge in tackling climate change.
It outlines a £30bn pipeline of live investable projects, with the opportunity for £207bn to be invested in the region overall, all aimed at decarbonising major industrial sectors in the region.
UK leader for job creation and new green technology
Research shows that the North West is the nation’s leader of manufacturing new, low-carbon technology, and has the highest number of potential jobs in green tech manufacturing. This is thanks to its rich industrial history and resources already in place, such as Burbo Bank offshore wind farm in Liverpool Bay and the Stanlow refinery in Ellesmere Port.
Driving government support
At the heart of the plan is a call for increased government support and assistance to drive key technologies like hydrogen and Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage (CCUS), develop enabling infrastructure, enhance regional communications, build appropriate skills and workforce, and provide overarching leadership to monitor progress and support project delivery.
Ged Barlow, Chief Executive at Net Zero North West, comments: “Substantially decarbonising regional industry by 2030, and getting to net zero emissions by 2040, is an opportunity that presents significant economic benefits, both regionally and nationally. It will create and protect high value jobs and position the UK at the forefront of global industrial emissions reductions.
“Our plans underscore the importance of collaboration and collective action in addressing the challenges of climate change. By setting ambitious targets and working towards a common goal of sustainability, we can inspire other regions to follow suit and join the global movement towards a greener, more sustainable future.”
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, comments:
“Climate change presents a global challenge on a scale like nothing we’ve ever seen – and it will require a huge, collective response to tackle it. The Liverpool City Region was the first region in the country to officially recognise that by declaring a climate emergency, and, while we had already set ourselves the ambitious aim to be net zero carbon by 2040, we are now revising our target to 2035 – the most ambitious regional target in the country. "
“From the work we’re doing to position ourselves as Britain’s Renewable Energy Coast, to bringing national infrastructure projects like Mersey Tidal Power to life, to the cleaner, greener public transport network we’re building, our area is firing on all cylinders to make sure we do our bit for the planet – and the region’s economy.
“Overcoming climate change is not something that can be accomplished solely in our region, the UK, or even in Europe - but that won’t stop the North West doing everything we can to play the biggest part possible.”
Here at NZNW we are determined to lead the charge towards a sustainable future and we want to call on all stakeholders to join forces in this critical effort.
For more information on Net Zero North West and our transformative vision for a decarbonised industrial cluster, read the manifesto in full [here](https://netzeronw.co.uk/manifesto).