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Mobility transitions: COVID-19 and building back better post-carbon transport futures

By Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment Posted:

In the days and weeks following the global lockdowns due to COVID-19, reports emerged on plunging carbon emissions and better air quality. The hashtag #BuildBackBetter quickly emerged as communities and governments started thinking about how to reconfigure essential travel infrastructure in a rapidly changing world. But as lockdown restrictions have eased, to varying levels, emissions […]

Building back better: rethinking urban futures with children and young people

By Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Education, Inclusive Growth Posted:

The global pandemic of 2020 has had a huge impact on the lives of millions of citizens around the world, with research showing that children and young people (CYP) have been the most severely affected. Here in the UK and beyond, governments and policymakers are expressing their determination to ‘build back better’ after COVID-19, while […]

Protecting our children’s memory – how can we tackle the scourge of poor air quality in and around our schools?

By and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Health and Care, Health and Social Care, Urban Posted:

Every day, children are exposed to levels of pollution, both during their journeys to and from school but also in playgrounds and classrooms. Results from a new literature review carried out by The University of Manchester suggests traffic-related air pollution, specifically particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2), are detrimental to cognitive functioning in children […]

COVID-19 and sustainable everyday routines

Claire Hoolohan By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Urban Posted:

Climate change requires rapid and fundamental transformation of our society to change the way that resources like energy and water are used during everyday routines. However, unsustainable consumption proves surprisingly impervious to policies and interventions intended to reduce emissions, not least because taken-for-granted ways of living become ‘locked-in’ by cultural and material conditions of society. […]

Graphene providing a firm foundation for a more sustainable construction industry

James Baker By Filed Under: Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Renewables, Science and Engineering, Science and Technology Posted:

If we want to achieve a zero carbon world we literally need to build it in a different way. Here, James Baker, CEO of Graphene@Manchester talks about the need to support and accelerate graphene innovation to help make building materials much more sustainable in a bid to meet regional and national net zero targets. Greater […]

Getting women’s voices into policymaking in Greater Manchester

Francesca Gains By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Devo, Growth and Inclusion Posted:

Progress toward achieving equality in life chances, so that all citizens can fulfil their potential, has been slow. Despite women in the UK having the vote for over 100 years and protection from equalities legislation since the 1970s, there are still significant inequalities in the educational, employment, care and retirement choices available to men and […]

The retrofitting challenge in Manchester

Elvira Uyarra By , and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Energy and Environment, Urban Posted:

During January-March 2020, Mateusz Ziembla, together with Dr Elvira Uyarra and Professor Jonatan Pinkse, undertook a study for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), funded by Research England, aimed at analysing the challenges associated with improving the energy efficiency of existing housing stock in order to articulate recommendations for policy action. Cost-effective decarbonisation of domestic […]

COVID-19 and the future of urban mobility

By and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Urban Posted:

COVID-19 has comprehensively disrupted urban mobility systems. Public transport authorities are running skeleton services, while streets are less congested. In the midst of lockdown conditions, urban mobility systems look unrecognisable. Here, Dr Mike Hodson and Professor Andrew McMeekin reflect on how different areas have responded to the lockdown, and discuss key considerations that will shape […]

COVID-19: What should transport and mobility responses be now and beyond?

By Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Urban Posted:

The measures we put in place around transport and mobility are critical to how we emerge from this pandemic and rebuild in the coming years. In this blog, Dr Ransford A. Acheampong examines how to make transport safe as some of the most vulnerable groups are returning to work, and shows that active travel is […]

Build in haste, repent at leisure? Post-pandemic planning at the precipice

Iain White By , and Filed Under: All posts, Cities and Environment, Growth and Inclusion, Inclusive Growth Posted:

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to discussions on what shape planning should take post-crisis. Here, Prof Iain White, Prof Graham Haughton, and Dr Nuno Pinto outline how current regulations have exacerbated difficulties for some people in lockdown, discuss how opportunistic developers or politicians may seek to hijack the policy responses, and suggest solutions to ensure […]

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