Action on climate change is not new to Manchester. A wide range of people and organisations have been active for many years in campaigning and taking practical steps to reduce Manchester's carbon footprint and change behaviour - reflecting Manchester's longstanding commitment to becoming Britain's greenest city (see section 1.4). But against the current backdrop of very difficult economic conditions, climate change can appear as a confusing issue on which it is unclear what action is being asked of people and why. Often, climate change action is presented as a point of sacrifice. There tends to be insufficient emphasis on how institutions such as government and business an help people - and each other - to remove barriers to behaviour change and demonstrate the advantages that a lower carbon economy and society could bring in the form of increased resilience, competitiveness and a higher quality of life. The present economic downturn does not relegate climate change and environmental issues in importance, but challenges us to show how climate-friendly action can help people in difficult economic circumstances and lay the foundations for a new low carbon economy when the cycle turns upward once again.

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