Manchester council will spend at least £69million in the coming years in a bid to reduce its carbon footprint and tackle climate change.

Earlier this summer, the authority responded to growing public demand for action by unanimously passing a motion to declare a 'climate emergency'.

The council has promised to take the climate crisis into account in all of its decision-making and aims to become 'carbon neutral' by 2038, twelve years ahead of the national target.

That means the volume of greenhouse gases emitted by the authority would be either removed completely, or offset through techniques such as tree planting so that they are safely removed from the atmosphere.

The vast majority of carbon emissions come from human activities such as using electricity to heat homes and offices and burning petrol and diesel to travel.

The council's carbon neutral pledge has come under scrutiny in recent months after a series of controversial decisions around transport in the city centre.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

Tens of millions of pounds are is being spent to widen and improve the inner ring road at Great Ancoats Street , Regent Road and the Princess Road roundabout.

All three are major projects expected to take months and are causing significant congestion in the meantime.

Council bosses argue the pain will be worthwhile in the long run because it will improve traffic flow and reduce bus journey times, encouraging more use of public transport.

But critics say there is not enough evidence to prove that road-widening schemes reduce congestion and that residents most affected by the roadworks have had little consultation.

Meanwhile, the council's planning committee last week approved an application to use the former Central Retail Park as a 440-space car park for two years pending regeneration plans despite major opposition.

With climate change protests becoming a frequent feature in the city centre, political leaders are keen to prove that their green credentials translate into deeds, not just words.

(Image: Manchester Evening News)

The council's newly-formed Climate Change Sub Group Scrutiny Committee has now met for the first time.

A five-year action plan to halve the council's own emissions between 2020-2025 is being drawn up, as well as plans for how the city as a whole can achieve the same target.

Actions that are already underway include £10.2million towards green refurbishment of the authority's corporate estate.

Thirteen buildings including the Town Hall, Hulme District Office, Wythenshawe Forum, the Velodrome, Moss Side Leisure Centre and Alexandra House have either been assessed for opportunities for investment or are in the midst of renovation.

The council says this has been funded through 'prudential borrowing' on the basis that it expects to save around £700,000 a year.

More than 56,000 street lights are being changed for low energy LED replacements at a cost of £32.8million over the next three years.

Around 45,000 have been replaced so far and the council said this has also been funded through prudential borrowing.

It is understood the council has worked with Salix Finance, a company that specialises in providing loans to the public sector to improve energy efficiency, reduce carbon emissions and lower energy bills, on funding this scheme.

A £26m shared heating system is to be installed in the Civic Quarter between the Town Hall, Central Library and Manchester Central which bosses say will cut emissions.

(Image: Colin Horne - Manchester Evening News)

This has attracted some government grant money but, again, has been predominantly funded through borrowing.

Perhaps the biggest part of the climate challenge will be encouraging and assisting Manchester residents to makes changes to their daily lives.

The committee is therefore also promising to look into fuel poverty, in particular homes that don't have a central heating system.

Other important improvements include loft insulation, cavity wall insulation, boiler replacement and low energy lighting.

Annette Wright, Labour councillor for the Hulme ward, who proposed the 'climate emergency' motion and sits on the new committee said: "We are in an emergency situation and we have to respond accordingly.

"The purpose of the Climate Change sub group is to make sure we are making progress against our Climate Emergency motion and our aim to become zero carbon by the earliest date."

(Image: Mark Waugh Manchester Press Photography Ltd)

"I am pleased that the council is demonstrating that we understand the seriousness and urgency by establishing the Zero Carbon Coordinating Group at a very high level.

"I look forward to our Sub Group working with it to identify ways in which we can progress the issue and present information in a way which allows all of us to understand and monitor progress.

"It was good to see members of the public contributing today.

"I hope we can all work together to provide the ideas and scrutiny we will need if we are to play our full part in delivering the essential actions now required to ensure all those in power in address the climate catastrophe."