A £30 billion investment plan to transform Glasgow into a net zero city by 2030 has been revealed – less than 50 days before the city hosts the COP26 global climate conference.
The ‘greentprint’ includes revived plans for a regional metro system and a garden being planted over the M8.
The strategy features plans to plant 18 million tress in the city region over the next decade, a ten-year £10 billion programme to upgrade the insulation of all homes in the Glasgow city region to help achieve net zero carbon emissions – which will lower household energy bills. Two district heat network projects are als included in the plans, hoping to harness the power of the Clyde.
The Glasgow Metro would connect the city centre with eight surrounding local authorities with the plans included in Transport Scotland’s strategic transport review earlier this year.
The metro was given a boost after being included in the Scottish Government's investment priorities for the next 20 years, alongside an extended Edinburgh tram network.
READ MORE: Glasgow 'metro' and wider Edinburgh tram network plans to move forward
Transport Scotland officials have suggested the metro system could include “bus rapid transit, tram, light rail and/or metro rail” and could be “integrated with the bus and heavy rail networks”.
The system could include “completely new alignments, reuse of disused former railway alignments and/or the conversion of existing rail alignments to a new mode”.
Plans have also recognised the need for “the creation of light rail / metro system from Glasgow Airport to Glasgow Central Station”.
Officials are hoping to bring forward a feasibility study for the metro plans which "will particularly inform into and align with local, regional and national transport strategies to demonstrate the case for an integrated public transport system".
It is hoped that "bus, train, metro, subway, active travel and new forms of mobility can co-exist and offer improved competitiveness and investment opportunities."
Ambitious proposals to create a roof garden at the M8 at Charing Cross would see a cap built over a part of the motorway.
The garden project could cost between £60 million and £80 million an be completed by 2026.
The vision for the project includes new public open spaces at the Mitchell Library and a reduction in vehicular traffic.
Susan Aitken, leader of Glasgow City Council said the city “is ready to meet the challenges of the climate emergency head on”.
She added: “Our net zero future is about safer communities, warm and efficient homes, sustainable jobs and a prosperous economy. Transition has to be about the social and economic well-being of Glasgow and its people.
“This will require levels of investment never seen before in local government and adaptation plans which will be vital in delivering a modern, resilient and inclusive city economy.
“A core element of Glasgow’s green deal, our ‘greenprint’ brings together transformational, investable and shovel-ready projects. From an entire new transport system better connecting citizens to opportunities, generating renewable energy from the River Clyde and upgrading hundreds of thousands of homes across our city region, the greenprint projects will deliver the infrastructure necessary for a low carbon, climate-resilient future."
Ms Aitken added: “Glasgow’s challenges are typical of those of so many of our global peers. As cities rebuild to decarbonise, we can be the demonstrator in shaping those solutions.
“The success of COP26 will be measured by how cities can take the practical steps necessary to secure the future of our planet. Our greenprint provides a major part of our roadmap to doing just that.”
The Clyde Climate Forest will be enhanced with 9,000 additional hectares of tree-plating – increasing forest and woodland cover by 3%.
The vision also hopes to address the billions of pounds of waste clothing thrown away every year with a micro park apparel project. The ideal will aim to create a new location for fashion production in the UK, embedding circular economy principles such as reusing materials.
The micro park apparel will harness 100% renewable energy and generate no liquid waste.
Strathclyde University will lead a project to ensure the Glasgow City Innovation District is 100% climate neutral and climate resilient.
The district was launched in 2019 as a hub for entrepreneurship – and plans are being drawn up to integrate 100% renewable energy for heat, power and transport.
Labour MSP Paul Sweeney, has criticised transport investment in the city being focused on roads improvements.
He said: "It is a lack of imagination that sees Transport Scotland and the Scottish Government about to blindly spend hundreds of millions of pounds on reconstructing concrete M8 viaducts that have scarred central Glasgow for 50 years at the expense of new active travel routes in the city.
"Just think of the message that that sends to the world in the year of COP26 – the largest infrastructure spend in the city in decades will be the propping up and repairing of a defunct motorway."
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