They say climate change is a faraway storm. But what if I told you, it’s already pouring here in Greater Manchester—and we’re standing in the middle of it?
From the Boxing Day floods of 2015 to the unbearable heatwave of July 2022, climate change is no longer a prediction. It’s personal. And for cities like Salford, the message is clear: adapt or risk being left behind.
The Reality in Our Backyard
In just the last decade, Manchester has warmed by 1°C compared to the 1961–1990 average. Five of our hottest years ever recorded happened after 2006. Our summers are becoming drier, our winters wetter, and our communities more vulnerable.
Future projections under high-emission scenarios present a grim outlook:
- Heatwaves will become more severe, posing significant health risks, particularly to the elderly and those lacking access to cool, safe housing.
- Flood risks are expected to rise sharply, especially along the Salford-Manchester border. Even with existing flood defences, major areas like Lower Broughton, Ordsall, and parts of Eccles could face flooding due to a projected 35–70% increase in peak river flows by the 2070s.
- Infrastructure vulnerabilities, including risks of cascading power outages and overloaded digital, transport, and communication systems, are rated as “Very High” by the 2050s.
- Salford’s green spaces such as Peel Park and the Irwell corridor are increasingly threatened by wildfires, drought stress, invasive species, and biodiversity decline, which will diminish their ecological roles and value to the community.
But Salford Is a City of Strength
A city of innovation, culture, and resilience. We’ve got the spirit of transformation in our DNA. But transformation needs fuel, and that fuel is “youth”.
The climate crisis is not just an environmental or scientific issue; it is fundamentally a social justice challenge. It disproportionately affects the most vulnerable – low-income communities, the elderly, and children, intensifying existing inequalities in health, housing, and access to resources.
As young people, we are not just future stakeholders, we are present actors. We are directly impacted by decisions made today, and we have the capacity to influence them.
We bring interdisciplinary skills, technological fluency, and a deep understanding of the urgency of the climate crisis. Our generation is equipped with the tools to innovate, communicate, and drive systemic change across sectors—from climate science to urban planning, education to entrepreneurship.
What we need now is not just awareness—but action.
What Can You Do?
- Speak Up: Challenge your schools, colleges, universities, workplaces, and local councils to prioritise climate adaptation and mitigation. Ask the difficult questions. Demand ambitious, science-led solutions.
- Get Involved: Join or create local climate and sustainability groups, for example the University’s Sustainability Society. Take part in climate adaptation planning, demand climate-resilient infrastructure, and push for inclusive, future-ready urban policies.
- Use Your Platform: Whether it’s on Instagram, TikTok, or in your seminar room, your voice matters. Share your climate story. Highlight local challenges. Celebrate community action. The shift starts with visibility.
- Engage with Sustainability at the University of Salford: At Salford, we are building a space where young minds can lead. Whether it’s through student-led initiatives, research collaborations, or sustainability events—create, collaborate, and engage. We are here to amplify your ideas and action for a better future.
Be the Tipping Point
You don’t need to be an expert. You just need to care.
If you’ve ever sweltered in a heatwave, watched floodwater inch closer to your door, or worried about the future we need you. This is your city. This is your time. Be loud. Be hopeful. Be the storm that brings change.
Written by Saadan Hussain