By Amy House, Director, Green Economy, part of the Growth Company

Greater Manchester’s cost-of-living challenge is closely linked to the way our economy uses energy, materials, water and resources. As we look for ways to make life more affordable for residents, protect local jobs and support long-term prosperity, there is a valuable opportunity to consider how productivity and resource efficiency can work together.

That was the clear message from Bev Craig, Mayor of Greater Manchester’s Cost of Living Summit, which brought together leaders from across the public, voluntary and business sectors to focus on meaningful action for people across the city-region. The scale of the challenge is significant. Too many residents are still struggling with rising bills and financial pressure, and the response must go beyond short-term support alone - to look at the systems, costs and business practices that shape everyday affordability.

At Green Economy, our vision is a low-carbon economy that delivers prosperity, inclusivity and opportunity for businesses and communities. We see every day that reducing carbon is not a “nice to have” or a reputational exercise. It is a practical route to stronger, more resilient businesses.

Energy prices, climate adaptation, water scarcity and material costs are already live issues for employers. They affect margins, investment decisions, supply chains and the ability of businesses to plan for growth. Leaders who treat environmental performance as separate from economic performance risk missing one of the most immediate opportunities to improve productivity.

Resource efficiency gives businesses a way to act now. By reducing waste, lowering energy use, improving processes and reassessing supply chains, companies can cut costs, strengthen competitiveness and release capacity for growth. Those savings matter to firms, but they also matter to people. More efficient, resilient businesses are better placed to protect jobs, create new opportunities and contribute to a stronger local economy.

This is also where the green economy can make a direct contribution to the cost-of-living agenda. The transition to a lower-carbon economy is not only about emissions targets, it is about creating high-quality local jobs, developing the skills businesses need, supporting innovation and ensuring that more of the value created by the transition stays within Greater Manchester.

We have the ambition, industrial capability and business base to lead, but progress will depend on collaboration. Public sector leadership is essential, but so too is the commitment of businesses that are willing to do things differently - to reduce their environmental impact, improve productivity and create social value through the way they operate.

Green Economy is proud to support businesses on that journey. Our role is to help firms understand where the opportunities are, take practical steps to improve performance and connect into the growing market for low-carbon goods and services. Done well, this creates a virtuous circle: businesses become more efficient and competitive, supply chains become stronger, and communities benefit from better jobs, cleaner growth and a more resilient local economy.

As Greater Manchester continues to respond to the cost-of-living challenge, our business community can help to build a fairer, more sustainable local economy. By working together, we can help ensure the benefits of a greener economy are felt more widely - by businesses, residents and communities across the city-region.