Manchester is my Planet
Press Release

Issue 08: 28/09/05

Rugby star in a lather to help tackle climate change.

Salford City Reds and England rugby league prop forward, Andy Coley, is taking his 'Manchester is my Planet' climate change pledge very seriously... by swapping his bath for a shower! He, along with the Salford City Reds rugby league team, signed up to reduce his energy use by 20% before 2010 to help reduce the greenhouse gases that are contributing to climate change.

Andy Coley has taken to having showers in an effort to conserve energy and water, just one of the steps you can take to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions. Research has found that a bath can use three times more water than a shower, and many people fail to realise that means three times more energy use, as well as a waste of water.

Campaign supporter United Utilities gave the rugby team's pledge a big thumbs up. The company supplies water to around 2.9 million customers in the Northwest and spokesperson Nick Taylor from United Utilities said there are simple things we can all do at home and in the garden to use water wisely.

Nick said: "It is very easy to take water for granted, we just turn on the tap and expect it to be there. It is important to remember water is a precious resource and we have to strike a balance between what we supply at the tap and what we leave in the environment."

Other measures you can take include switching off the tap when brushing your teeth, making sure the dishwasher and washing machine are full before use and using a watering can in the garden instead of a sprinkler.

Andy Coley is only too pleased to get involved with the campaign and jump in the shower to save the planet! "All of the Salford City Reds players have signed up to the Manchester is my Planet campaign and many of our fans have too. It's important to tackle climate change but it doesn't have to be difficult. Taking a shower rather than a bath is easy to do and it could also make a real difference."

The campaign hopes to get 10,000 people to take the climate change pledge before the end of October and is already well under way with over 7,500 pledges made already.

The campaign urges those people who live or work in the city region to take the 'Manchester is my Planet' pledge before a G8 climate change event to be staged in early November. Each individual will be pledging to help the city region reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% before 2010, to help the UK meet its international commitment on climate change.

People can take the pledge by sending a text message with the word 'pledge' and their postcode to 80010, clicking onto www.manchesterismyplanet.com or completing a freepost pledge card, which can be found in many outlets across the region.

MIMP is being led by the not-for-profit agency, Manchester: Knowledge Capital, with a group of partners that include regional think-tank, Sustainability Northwest and the ten local authorities. The campaign is being sponsored by the Northwest Regional Development Agency, Manchester: Knowledge Capital, Manchester University, Defra and Manchester City Council. Other major campaign supporters include Manchester Enterprises, United Utilities, Manchester Museum and ITV Granada, as well as Bolton, Salford and Manchester Metropolitan Universities.

The partnership intends to use the closing G8 climate event, and also the UK's presidency of the EU, to show that there is mass support for climate change action in Manchester and that, with the right campaign, it is possible to achieve widespread public commitment to change.

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Contact

Press Contact: Call Creative Concern on 0161 236 0600 or 0797 117 1228 (out of hours).

Notes to editors

1. Manchester is my Planet is being supported by more than 50 organisations including Bolton MBC, Bury MBC, Co-operative Bank, Smile and CIS, Cornerhouse, Emerge Recycling, Environment Agency, Environment Network for Manchester, ENWORKS, Friends of the Earth Manchester, George House Trust, GMPTE, Groundwork Northwest, ITV Granada, MANCAT, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester City Council, Manchester City Football Club, Manchester City Galleries, Manchester Enterprises, Manchester Museum, Manchester Museum of Science and Industry, Manchester: Knowledge Capital, Mersey Basin Campaign, MIDAS, Moonfish, Nornir, Northwest Business Leadership Team, Northwest Regional Assembly, Northwest Regional Development Agency, Northwest Trades Union Council, Oldham MBC, Red Rose Forest, Rochdale MBC, RWE Solutions, Stockport MBC, Sustainability Northwest, Tameside MBC, Trafford MBC, United Utilities, University of Manchester, University of Bolton and University of Salford.
2. Every person taking the pledge will get a free pledge pack with advice, suggestions on how to get more people signed up, and a colourful campaign lollipop challenging the pledger 'to help lick climate change'.
3. As individuals take their pledge, a record of their postcode will add their pledge to the website 'pledge-o-meter', which will show how well the ten boroughs of Greater Manchester are doing in tackling climate change.
4. MIMP pledgers are asked to make small changes to their lifestyle such as not leaving electrical appliances on standby, turning down the thermostat by one degree, and thinking twice about making a car journey when they could walk, cycle or use public transport.
5. The Manchester is my Planet pledge is part of a wider programme of green energy improvements and developments across the Manchester city region, which includes new transport improvements, green building schemes, tackling energy use in office and potentially a circle of wind turbines alongside the M60.
6. The Manchester is my Planet campaign is being organised by Manchester-based sustainable development communications agency, Creative Concern.