Developing skills for Greater Manchester’s ‘Green Revolution’
The development of green skills and the importance of innovation and collaboration in meeting Greater Manchester’s net-zero goals were among the topics discussed and led by Manchester Met experts at today’s (March 3) GM Green Summit.
Now in its eighth year, the Green Summit was hosted at Co-op Live and brought together changemakers, communities, and organisations committed to driving climate action across Greater Manchester and beyond.
Speaking as part of a panel session at the event, Professor Liz Price MBE highlighted the role of Manchester Met in building the skilled workforce needed for the region’s transition to a low carbon economy.
The University is committed to embedding Carbon Literacy and Education for Sustainable Development across all its programmes to ensure the future green workforce have the skills they need to make a difference and drive change in their workplaces and local communities.
Professor Price said: “As the UK’s most sustainable university, and Vice-Chair of the United Nations Academic Impact Hub for SDG12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), Manchester Met is proud to support Greater Manchester’s target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2038.
“It was fantastic to share how we are preparing students with the skills and knowledge they need to become change agents for sustainability and create a greener Greater Manchester and beyond.”
In a separate session, Amer Gaffar joined a panel including the Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andy Burnham, to explore how international innovators are advancing Greater Manchester’s net zero goals, creating jobs and driving sustainable growth through public, university and industry collaborations.
As the home of the Fuel Cell Innovation Centre, Manchester Met has fostered co-operation between local authorities in their aims to reach net zero emissions through clean energy.
As a leading force in hydrogen innovation, researchers and academics at the University have been advisors for multiple inquiries at government level on the role of technologies such as hydrogen and fuel cells in a net zero economy.
Gaffar said: “We have developed one of the best place-based agendas for clean energy in the UK, closely aligned to the government’s Industrial Strategy.
“Having the opportunity to bring like-minded people and businesses together at the Green Summit has provided a perfect opportunity to advance our work and unlock the full potential of collaboration and innovation to meet regional, national and global net-zero targets.”
As well as hearing from leading experts, attendees at the Green Summit found information on Manchester Met’s pioneering researchers and range of innovation programmes, which are designed to help businesses develop in exciting new ways and gain a competitive edge.
Through initiatives such as the Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Centre and Greater Manchester Electrochemical Hydrogen Cluster, the University is supporting businesses to grow and innovate in a sustainable way.
Find out more about Manchester Met’s commitment to sustainability through its education and research, as well as how businesses can work with us to future-proof their organisations.
