Professor Brian Cox MBE to speak at the Manchester Green Summit on how science can tackle the climate crisis
- The professor is due to speak today with the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham and Lily Rimmer from the Youth Combined Authority about how science must be used to combat climate change
To keep on track with the Five-Year Environmental Plan, internationally renowned physicist Professor Brian Cox is due to speak today at the GMGS. The hope of summit members is that Manchester can be carbon neutral by 2038. To achieve this, focus is being put on young people and how they are already changing the landscape of our response to climate change.
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From 21-24 September free virtual spotlight sessions are taking place. Features this week include Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environmental Agency, Chris Boardman, Olympic cyclist and cycling advocate, and John Scanlon, of SUEZ recycling and recovery UK. Today, Professor Cox is speaking about how policy changes can be shaped by scientific aid. From the Green Summit 2020 official page, Brian Cox ‘…has also authored a series of best-selling books, including the widely acclaimed Human Universe and Universal: A Guide to the Cosmos, and is recognised as the foremost communicator for all things scientific.’
The Five-Year Environmental Plan is a key focus of the Green Summit, which is in its third year now. The aims ‘include becoming carbon neutral by 2038, improving air quality in the next decade, protecting our natural environment and building resilience to the effects of climate change.’
Discussion about the environmental and economic impacts of Covid are prevalent within educational spaces and in the briefings held by the PM. To reinforce these challenges and also how we can build back as a community, GMGS is including speaker Nigel Topping, UK’s High Level Climate Action Champion, joining live panel to discuss Building Back Better in Greater Manchester.
Andy Burnham said: “It is fantastic news Professor Brian Cox will be joining our already confirmed list of excellent speakers at Greater Manchester’s 2020 Green Summit. Over the last few months, science has played a vital role in informing how we address the coronavirus pandemic. In the same way, we must also use science to inform and influence policy on the ongoing climate emergency.
“Tackling a problem of this scale requires all of us to work together. The strength of Greater Manchester’s partnerships puts us in a great position to achieve the goals of the Five-Year Environment Plan and become carbon neutral by 2038. The input from Greater Manchester’s Youth Combined Authority also reflects the passion and determination our future generations have for achieving these goals.
The coronavirus crisis has presented us with a unique chance to build back better and greener, and so it is crucial during this year’s Green Summit we focus on these challenges to really bring about change to tackle the climate crisis in Greater Manchester.”
Greater Manchester’s Lead for Green City Region, Cllr Andrew Western, said: “This year’s Green Summit, although it will be different to the previous that have taken place, includes an amazing variety of speakers who will discuss how we can really make an impact on Greater Manchester’s green commitment.
“Whether it is improving air quality, ramping up cycling and walking or supporting energy-efficient initiatives to improve the way we live in our city-region, we now have the opportunity to celebrate our progress and set further goals to achieve our aim of becoming carbon neutral.”