Manchester City Council has vowed to reduce its carbon emissions by a third - the equivalent of driving an average new car more than 3.4 billion miles.

The Manchester Climate Change Call To Action, approved by the City Council's Executive committee, is the latest step in its goal of reducing Manchester's annual CO2 output by more than one million tonnes by 2020.

The City Council will work with its partners and other organisations to draw up a detailed action plan to be approved later in the year, setting out exactly how these cuts can be made over the next 12 years.

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A fund of £1m has been set aside to support the goal, and the City Council will encourage other public and private organisations to add their own funding to the pot, while a group will be set up to decide how this money can be allocated.

Early plans set out in the Call To Action include attracting green businesses such as environmental consultants, conservation groups and pollution control experts to the city.

The report also suggests creating sustainable regeneration areas in Manchester, which will be identified and announced later in the year and will feature eco-friendly buildings.

Another proposal will involve the creation of low carbon communities - in which the City Council will help residents and local community groups to run projects that fight climate change and improve their quality of life.

The Call To Action follows the publication of last year's Mini-Stern report, which warned that ignoring the threat of climate change could cost Greater Manchester up to £21 billion over the next 12 years.

(CD/JM)