University of Liverpool Unveils Net Zero Manifesto for City Region
The University of Liverpool’s Heseltine Institute for Public Policy, Practice and Place has worked with the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) for the Liverpool City Region (LCR) to develop a net zero manifesto.
Net Zero Manifesto: Scaling Up Green Prosperity was launched at a prestigious event in Parliament on Tuesday 14 May and sets out a roadmap for future governments to deliver green growth and maximise the LCR’s remarkable potential.
Net zero means achieving a state where we are no longer adding to the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. The UK government has pledged to achieve net zero by 2050, while Metro Mayor Steve Rotherham has set out ambitions for a carbon neutral Liverpool City Region by 2040 or sooner.
The Manifesto outlines key asks for more capacity from government and local flexibility to deliver the energy generation, housing, transport, skills and innovation needed to scale up green prosperity across the LCR.
A more stable, consistent, and long-term national policy framework for net zero is required to facilitate effective local action, according to the Manifesto. This includes active investment in the city-region’s energy infrastructure and skills systems to ensure they are prepared for the demands of a net zero economy.
The research highlighted that deeper devolution will also be vital to provide the increased policy and fiscal autonomy necessary for LCR to deliver a coordinated approach to achieving net zero across the entire city-region.
The Heseltine Institute is the academic partner for the Liverpool City Region APPG which aims to provide a strong voice for the city region in Westminster. It produces regular research briefings for the group, which includes parliamentarians from across the political spectrum based in the region.
Sue Jarvis, Co-Director at the Heseltine Institute, who outlined the research underpinning the manifesto at the launch said: “As academics partners for the Liverpool City Region APPG, we were delighted to attend the launch of the Net Zero Manifesto for the LCR and discuss the key asks for government.
“At the Heseltine Institute we’re proud to play a part in pioneering net zero innovation in our region and we look forward to contributing further to future discussions.”