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New
Green Index
shows Liverpool City Region ranks top, but has highest number of deaths
attributable to air pollution
THE new Green City Regions Index compares the
environmental performance of the Liverpool City Region, with the 5 other City
Regions, who will be electing new Metro Mayors, in May 2017. The index,
published by the leading environmental organisations:- Campaign for Better
Transport, the National Trust, The Wildlife Trusts, the Campaign to Protect
Rural England, and Green Alliance, measures the City Regions against a range of
green indicators, such as air quality and green infrastructure, as well as
sustainable housing and transport. To achieve their economic goals Cities will
need to be attractive places to live that are easy to get around, with clean air
and high quality green space. They will need to be resilient to climate change,
with future proofed plans for housing and transport. Liverpool City Region
performs better than other City Regions on:-
► Green spaces and water quality - Liverpool City Region has the highest
expenditure on open space per person at ₤28 per year. It was also ranked second
after Greater Manchester on the quality of water bodies with only 10% rated
'poor' or 'bad.’
► Transport - Liverpool City Region has the 2nd highest bus use out of the
City Regions, and also has easiest access to services by public transport or
walking.
But it faces a number of green challenges:-
► Recycling - Liverpool City Region has the 2nd lowest recycling rate of the 6
City Regions at 35%.
► Nature conservation - Liverpool City Region has the 2nd lowest percentage of
Local Wildlife Sites in positive conservation management at 41%.
► Low carbon transport - It scores the lowest for
electric vehicle infrastructure; with only 1 charging point per 100,000 people.
► Air quality - Like all City Regions in the index,
Liverpool City Region is breaching air quality limits for toxic NO2 and has the
highest number of deaths attributable to long term exposure to particulate
pollution among the 6 City Regions
The new mayor of Liverpool City Region will have a range of opportunities to
improve the City Region's local environment including through strategic housing
and transport plans, and increasing funding for:- clean and green transport,
housing and green spaces through investment funds and consolidated transport
budgets. Leah Davis, acting director at Green Alliance said:- "As
this index shows, Liverpool City Region has some significant green challenges to
face, not least tackling its poor air quality and improving conservation
efforts. But it also has some strong green credentials to build upon. The
mayoral election, on 4 May 2017, can bring a new source of environmental
leadership for the West Midlands, helping it to build a resource efficient,
resilient and competitive City Region for its citizens and businesses."
Stephen Joseph, chief executive of Campaign for Better Transport, said:-
"Merseytravel's work has demonstrated the positive change that high quality
public transport connections can bring. The challenge for the new Mayor is to
extend and sustain that across the City Region, delivering high quality local
transport that connects people to jobs and services, regenerates Town centres,
and helps tackle the region's lethal and illegal levels of air pollution. With
the election of its 1st metro Mayor, Liverpool City Region has a chance in a
generation to deliver a high quality, low carbon future." The new Green
City Regions Index is the 1st of a 2 part analysis. The 2nd part will be
published in a report:- 'Greening the City Regions; opportunities for new
Metro Mayors' and will set out the actions the new Metro Mayors can take
to make their Cities greener, cleaner and more resilient. |
