From increased rainfall to heat waves, climate change is now accepted as a major global challenge that’s set to intensify. There’s strong scientific evidence to suggest human behaviour, in particular our carbon dioxide emissions, are the cause.
As home to over half the world’s population, our towns and cities are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. As societies look to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases, the way that people travel, live and work in cities is likely to evolve. To ensure our cities remain livable, we need to develop ways to respond and adapt to these impacts and build an environmentally sustainable future.
The EcoCities project has been set up to help Greater Manchester adapt to projected changes in its climate. Drawing on the expertise of the Manchester Architecture Research Centre, Centre for Urban Regional Ecology and Brooks World Poverty Institute, Eco Cities focuses on how urban areas best respond to the challenges and opportunities that a changing climate presents. By the end of 2011, Eco Cities seeks to provide Manchester with its first blueprint for an integrated climate change adaptation strategy.
EcoCities is designed to be an international initiative that places