Manchester was one of the pioneering cities of the Industrial Revolution, and as such has made a significant contribution to the climate crisis we are experiencing today. With this historical knowledge in mind, Manchester declared a climate emergency in 2019, and is leading the way in the UK as a forward thinking city for action on climate change, aiming to be carbon neutral by 2038, 12 years before the UK's national target of 2050. Manchester is a CDP Climate Action Leader, being recognised with an 'A' rating for third year in a row. With initiatives lead by the Manchester Climate Change Partnership and Bee Net Zero, Manchester is working with businesses to decarbonise every sector of industry, increase biodiversity, encourage a circular economy, and increase health and wellbeing amongst its residents. In 2022, the 6.5 acre Mayfield Park was opened on a former brownfield site, the first urban park to be opened in the city for 100 years. Regenerating a derelict site as a green space for everyone, the park has recently won a prestigious Green Flag award, and demonstrates Manchester's commitment to improving the biodiversity of the city. If the original industrial revolution city can tackle climate change, any city can.

Manchester is a great place to hold business conferences, meetings, and events given it's unofficial title as 'gateway to the North'. Manchester is a walkable city with a brilliant public transport network that can whisk delegates around the city and to the regions of Greater Manchester beyond, as well as across the UK, ensuring that a low carbon travel footprint is within reach for all. The airport has been carbon neutral in it's non-flight operations since 2016, and is at the forefront of working towards the development of alternative airplane fuels. Our main convention centre, Manchester Central, is in the centre of the city occupying an old train station, and is fully certified with ISO 14001. The centre has its own in-house catering team who make food prepared from local suppliers where possible, and is the host site for the Civic Quarter Heat Network which generates low carbon heat and power for the city. The Manchester Convention Bureau Team work closely with event organisers and venues to ensure that any event held here is as sustainable as possible, and is currently developing a sustainable events guide and a legacy and impact programme to promote social impact initiatives.

Manchester is a multicultural city with many cultures and religions living and working together. In the 2021 census, it was found that people born in 189 countries reside in the city, and 91 different languages are spoken. This is reflected in the wide array of experiences a visitor to Manchester can have, be that a delicious curry in one of our many South Asian restaurants, spätzle at a Polish deli, a visit to the Manchester Jewish Museum, or the Lee Hai Kung Chinese Culture Gallery in the recently renovated Manchester Museum amongst many more. The city is working towards becoming a Real Living Wage city, as recognised by the Living Wage Foundation, and is committed to taking action to ensure the Modern Slavery Act is adhered to by all businesses and organisations in the city. Our city is walkable, with most major attractions, hotels and restaurants within a 30 min walk of the city centre, and our transport network across buses, trains and trams is fully accessible to all, with steps being made to increase the accessibility of all public spaces and buildings. Greater Manchester's Sustainability Strategy is aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, and the Sustainable Tourism Action Plan currently in development will also align with them.