Climatic city: Two centuries of urban planning and climate science in Manchester (UK) and its region

This paper traces the history, and current challenges, of climate science and urban design in Greater Manchester, UK. The Mancunian metropolis is a remarkable example of a ‘climatic city’, one that shapes its climate as much as it is shaped by it. From the efforts to control smoke and clear slums in the 19th century, to today’s race to be at the forefront of ‘green’ and ‘sustainable’ cities, climate is a central actor in Manchester’s history and will likely be so in the near future. We analyse the continuities and inflections of this history of climate science and urban planning in the metropolis by drawing on historical material and interviews with key local stakeholders, to understand the natural, social and political construction of this singular ‘industrial ecology’. Ultimately, we ask whether stakeholders in the Greater Manchester area can overcome existing challenges to go towards a greener, more resilient and sustainable city.

► Manchester’s status as a great industrial power was closely linked to its climate.
► Manchester saw some of the first historical attempts to curb harmful emissions.
► Current initiatives to make the city more sustainable aim to make it more attractive.
► Plans to green the city originate within the academic and consultancy communities.
► There are disagreements over ways of making the city more sustainable.