North West set to showcase region’s climate action at COP26

The North West is leading action to tackle climate change and power a Green Industrial Revolution … that’s the message from the North West’s political and business leaders as they prepare to stage their official COP26 programme.

Leaders from across the North West – home to 7.3 million people - are uniting for COP26. They’re sending a clear message to international leaders that, with the right investment, the region can become the first in the UK to reach net zero. Doing so would create thousands of green jobs, improve air quality and stimulate billions of investment into communities.

As part of the UK hosting the international UN Climate Conference, two free official roadshows will take place in the North West, with a programme of events also planned at COP26 in Glasgow over the next fortnight.

They’ll showcase the best of the pioneering North, where major projects and initiatives are already underway to slash carbon emissions from energy, industry, transport and homes to reach net zero.

Leaders will be showcasing the best of the North West up in Glasgow, with panel sessions and discussions on the legacy of COP26 to run throughout the conference. It includes a landmark net zero event in the official Glasgow Green Zone. ‘Talking About My Generation’, on Tuesday 9 November, will see the metro mayors join innovators and young people from across the North West to discuss how education and innovation will play a crucial role in tackling climate change. The session will be free to attend to those with a green zone ticket.

Official COP26 events will also take place in the region. Free to attend, the North West COP26 regional roadshows will give those not attending Glasgow the chance to get involved in the climate conversation:

• Powering the Green Industrial Revolution

The Heath, Runcorn, Thursday 4 November 2021, 9.15am – 4pm

The first event will celebrate progress made to cut carbon from our job-creating, energy-intensive industries such as manufacturing and what the future holds as we reach net zero.

• Power to the People: Enabling a Smart Energy Transition

Escape to Freight Island, Manchester, Tuesday 9 November 2021, 9.30am – 3pm

The second event will focus on the innovators pioneering new sources of sustainable fuel and electricity, with a focus on the built environment, transport and smart energy.

 

The events will showcase some of the innovative projects planned for the North West, including plans to harness tidal power via the Mersey Tidal Power project; decarbonise industries by creating and distributing hydrogen via the HyNet North West project; and the mission to create a joined-up low carbon transport network in the North West’s towns and cities.

Clare Hayward MBE DL, Chair of the Cheshire & Warrington LEP, said:  

“We have a bold ambition to make Cheshire and Warrington the most sustainable place in the UK and achieve Net Zero. This week’s announcement that HyNet North West low carbon and energy project will be one of the first two to be delivered in the UK is a huge step towards achieving this. These regional roadshows will enable the North West to showcase the actions we are taking to tackle climate change and to get involved in the conversation and see that we mean business.”

The official North West programme is being made possible thanks to support from some of the biggest names in the North West with a role in cutting carbon emissions.

Sponsors include Alstom, Bruntwood, Cadent, Electricity North West, HyNet North West, Intergen, Johnson Matthey, Natwest, the North West Business Leadership Team, North West Hydrogen Alliance, Octupus Energy, Robertson, Rock Rail Infrastructure, Siemens, Transport for Greater Manchester and United Utilities alongside Font Communications, SP Energy Networks, Heath Park, University of Liverpool, Mayfield Depot and Net Zero North West.

The programme is also being funded by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy part of the UK’s official COP26 activity. Activity in the North West is being coordinated by the Local Energy North West Hub.