On December 1, at the national Councillor Awards in London hosted by the LGIU and CCLA Good Investment, Whalley Range Labour councillor Angeliki Stogia won the Environment and Sustainability Pioneer award.

Working as Manchester City Council’s Executive Member for Environment, Planning and Transport between 2017-21, Angeliki oversaw the implementation of ambitious programmes across the city aimed at cutting emissions and encouraging more people to use low-carbon modes of transport. In July 2019 the Council declared a climate emergency, setting a goal for the city to be zero carbon by 2038 – 12 years ahead of the Government’s own target of 2050. A key pillar of this aim was the launch of the City Centre Transport Strategy, which outlined the Council’s ambition that, by 2040, 90% of journeys to the city centre during the morning peak will be done by walking, cycling or public transport.

Speaking afterwards Angeliki said “I’m incredibly grateful to have received this award. In Manchester there has been a huge collective effort to address the all too real threat posed by climate change. We have seen a huge commitment from people and organisations across the city, from our transport partners, our exceptional Council officers and ward residents, all pulling in the same direction. This will not be an easy process and will not happen overnight, but I feel privileged to have played a small part in setting Manchester – and Whalley Range – on the course to zero carbon, and securing a future which is healthy, green and socially just.”