Environmental Sustainability


Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) works together to serve local communities, businesses and other partners and to improve the city-region. We are committed to delivering this service in a sustainable manner.

Environmental Sustainability Policy

Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA) works to serve local communities, businesses and other partners to improve the city-region. We are committed to delivering this service in a sustainable manner. This policy aligns to the scope of the GMCA Environmental Management System and covers the core functions of GMCA based at Tootal Buildings as well as the sites and activities of Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) and activities delivered by GMCA Waste & Resources Team.

GMCA has set an overarching target to achieve carbon neutrality by 2038. To drive progress towards 2038, GMCA has a sustainability strategy incorporating five objectives to be achieved by 2026:

  1. To have reduced our scope 1 and 2 carbon emissions by 30%
  2. To have embedded environmental protection fully into emergency response activity
  3. To have a minimum of 80% of our supply chain that demonstrates commitment to our carbon neutrality target
  4. To have developed a climate adaptation strategy
  5. To have trained all of our staff in understanding the climate emergency and their role in tackling it

To support these principles we commit to:

  • Actively reduce the environmental impacts of our sites and operations.
  • Proactively protect the natural environment and prevent pollution.
  • Comply with all applicable environmental legislation and meet the reasonable expectations of interested parties.
  • Continue to work closely with local communities, public sectors and our value chain to promote safety, wellbeing and sustainability.
  • Consider life-cycle sustainability issues in decision making, for example when:
  • Setting strategic direction of the organisation.
  • Procuring goods and services.
  • Designing new buildings and equipment
  • Developing procedures and policies.
  • Support partner organisations to enable better environmental, social and economic outcomes for Greater Manchester.
  • Set objectives and targets to deliver our sustainability strategy.
  • Communicate our sustainability strategy and performance to all interested parties.

We aim to continually improve our environmental and sustainability performance and this policy and our objectives will be reviewed annually.

Caroline Simpson

Group Chief Executive, Greater Manchester Combined Authority

Date: 9 May 2025

Environmental Sustainability Strategy

Environmental Sustainability Strategy (Accessible PDF, 5.8MB)