Debate on reducing emissions in Greater Manchester through sustainable public transport

A panel drawn from the private and public sectors will discuss steps that Greater Manchester could take to reduce the city’s air pollution levels, particularly the deployment of electrified buses.

Transport for Greater Manchester Executive Director Michael Renshaw will be joined by bus operators Arriva, Volvo Buses and air quality NGOs.

Air pollution has serious implications for health; almost 40,000 annual deaths in the UK are directly attributed to air pollution - 1,346 annual deaths occur in Greater Manchester due to particulate emissions alone.The real number of fatalities in the region is likely to be higher as figures do not yet include harmful NOx emissions.

Michael Renshaw, Executive Director of Transport for Greater Manchester said:
“Greater Manchester is the fastest growing city in the UK outside London, and one of our objectives is to make sure that our growth is sustainable.

"We recognise that air quality and carbon emissions are two of our key transport challenges, so we’re working to continue the reduction in bus-related emissions.

"Our goal is to place buses at the heart of an integrated, high-quality and sustainable public transport network, and I look forward to discussing this aspiration with industry stakeholders at the event.”

As well as reducing harmful particulate and NOx emissions which reduce air quality, electric hybrid or pure electric buses reduce carbon emissions by 30-100% compared to normal buses, helping in the fight against climate change.

Electrifying buses offers other significant benefits. Buses are cheaper than rail or tram options but are still able to use electric power and can run with zero emissions meaning innovations such as indoor bus stops and stops closer to, or even in, residential or commercial buildings are possible. They also improve quality of life by substantially reducing noise for bus passengers and residents near bus routes.