Green cities – fit for life

©Ch

ris B

ahn

MESSAGE FROM BRISTOLBristol shares qualities and challenges with many of Europe’s finest medium sized cities. We are an historic city with a diverse urban population of about half a million people and beautiful surrounding towns and villages set in glorious countryside. We are also a city with two fine universities with a knowledge and manufacturing based economy with strong creative and clean technology sectors.

The award of European Green Capital 2015 is a great honour for Bristol and its citizens, recognising the huge range of initiatives by many people and organisations over many years. I pay tribute to my predecessors, to business leaders and to our community and voluntary sectors who have worked so well together to achieve this important accolade. I am particularly delighted that I have been able to play a part in ‘greening’ this wonderful city, most recently in my role as Mayor but also in my previous life as an architect, social entrepreneur and environmental activist.

But of course the real aim is, and always has been, to do all we can to improve people’s quality of life and to live sustainably within our planet’s resources. I hope that in the following pages you get a taste of what Bristol has to offer as Europe’s 6th Green Capital and of the ambition that we have to make Bristol a leading

environmental showcase and test bed for new ideas. We want to ensure that Bristol is a great city to bring up children and that we leave it a cleaner and healthier place than we found it. A city that is good for children is surely good for us all!

I hope that you will want to find out more, by using our on-line learning resources at Bristol2015.co.uk, by speaking with one of the many partners, or by visiting Bristol in person. You will find a warm welcome.

For Bristol our year as European Green Capital is an exciting one, as we celebrate our achievements, share our experiences with the world and plan the future sustainable Bristol. Thank you for being part of it.

©Chris Bahn

The Grain Barge on Harbourside

George Ferguson, Mayor of Bristol

BRISTOL AT A GLANCE Situated at the mouth of the Severn Estuary close to the confluence of the River Avon, Bristol city is surrounded by some of the most scenic countryside in England, with the Mendip Hills, Somerset Levels, Cotswolds Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and Brecon Beacons National Park. It is the United Kingdom’s eighth most populous city, with over 440,000 residents.

With evidence of settlement dating from the Stone Age and Roman occupation, Bristol formally became a city in 1542. Historically, the glass, paper, soap and chemical industries were aided by the establishment of Bristol as the terminus of the Great Western Railway by I. K. Brunel. In the early 20th century, Bristol was at the forefront of aircraft manufacture.

By the beginning of the 21st century the city had become an important financial centre and high technology hub.

Today Bristol has world-class industry clusters including creative (12.5%) and digital production, high tech, low carbon, aerospace and advanced engineering and professional services - all powered by a dynamic research and development base.

Bristol: Facts

• In 2014 Bristol was named The best place to live in the UK (Sunday Times)

• 1 in 5 people living in Bristol are under 16

• 35,000 full time students and 43% of citizens are educated to degree level (UK average is 35%)

• 34% of Bristol is made up of green and blue open spaces

• Bristol’s population boasts 50 countries of birth, 45 religions and 91 languages

• It has the best performing large urban UK city economy outside London

Bristol: Green Facts

• Bristol is the most energy and carbon efficient city in the UK

• Almost a fifth of Bristol residents walk to work

• Over the last ten years, homes have become 25% more efficient

• Over 90% of the Bristol population live within 300m of parklands and waterways

• Bristol’s low carbon economy employs around 9,000 people

• Bristol has four city farms, eight nature reserves and more than 400 parks

©Chris Bahn

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

2015: AN EXCITING YEAR Bristol has long been a city of inspiration and innovation – its bustling harbourside, excellent green spaces and stunning architecture providing the backdrop for creativity, daring ideas and adventures that have influenced the world throughout history. The 2015 European Green Capital programme focuses on three important themes: Learning, Innovation and Leadership.

A selection of highlights from the programme for Bristol 2015 includes:

The Bristol Debates, Summits and Conferences (February - April and October 2015) A series of international high profile summits and debates on climate change and the environment, to include young people, businesses, and government.

Green Capital Digital Challenge (February - April 2015) An international competition for teams to develop Cleanweb mobile apps or environmental awareness raising games.

An international green tech festival (March - June 2015) A year-long celebration of technology for smart, social & sustainable cities that will demonstrate Bristol’s leadership in creative, green technology.

Venturefest Bristol (April 2015) A full day event to showcase innovation in Bristol and Bath, showing the strengths as a region for entrepreneurship, innovation and R&D.

Solar Balloon (August 2015) Cameron Balloons will unveil the world’s first modern solar powered balloon to launch at the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.

Festival of Future Cities (November 2015) Drawing commissioned writers, artists, filmmakers, poets, architects and others to the city, this festival will seek to bring together all the lessons learned during the year.

Hundreds more events will be run, many by groups and organisations enabled by grants and other support that Bristol has been able to secure as European Green Capital 2015. Bristol’s programme will reach every neighbourhood and be as inclusive as possible.

©Chris Bahn

Childrens’ entertainers at a Make Sunday Special event in Bristol

WHAT MAKES BRISTOL UNIQUE©

Chris Bahn

Bristol Play Day 2014

Bristol is the first UK city to win the European Green Capital Award. Bristol won not just because of its plans for the future, but because of the city-wide efforts Bristol people and businesses are already making towards creating Britain’s most liveable city.

Bristol is already renowned as an environmentally friendly and green city, thanks to far-sighted municipal planning support from national legislation, and involving local people in decision making. The environmental management of Bristol has measurable targets and results in the areas of energy, transport, waste, water and food. Environmental assessment is being used for major Council decisions, corporate projects, procurement and commissioning.

The Bristol Pound is an alternative not-for-profit currency that represents the economic, social and environmental sustainability of the city. It is one of the world’s most successful voluntary local financial systems and is the largest alternative currency system in the UK.

Bristol works because everybody, from the individual citizen and business, to the city management and visitors, is committed to a better and more sustainable way of life. The city

is alive with eco innovation, wildlife gardens in unique spaces and vibrant initiatives to involve children in planning their future.

Adapting to climate change

Bristol has implemented a long term commitment to improving the environment in the city and has been working to reduce the city’s contribution to climate change since 2000. It has developed and delivered a series of strategies and action plans in order to achieve this, such as:

• The Bristol Climate Protection and Sustainable Energy Strategy

• The Local Transport Plan to 2026

• Active participation with citizen’s noise perception in the Quality of Life Survey

A city on the goBristol’s structured planning approach, following national requirements in the UK for adopting Local Transport Plans, has achieved results for increasing cycling, increased public transport use, and reducing car travel. Bristol has more 16 to 74 year olds (55,679) cycling or walking to work than any other unitary or district local authority in England and Wales (17.6%) according to the 2011 Census.

A 3 year Action Plan (2012-15) is being implemented aiming to increase:

• Cycling by 42%;

• Bus use by 15%;

• Rail use by 15%.

The Source West programme has created a network of points for charging electric vehicles and 2015 will see the celebration of the first 100 charging point spaces.

©Chris Bahn

Enthusiastic cyclists on the streets of Bristol participating in the Make Sunday Special programme

©Chris Bahn

Locals relaxing in Queen’s Square

What impressed the Jury

Bristol is an innovator in terms of Green Economy, with a powerful communications strategy and the commitment and enthusiasm required to enable it to become a role model for Europe. Bristol impressed the Jury with its investment plans for transport and energy. The city has committed a budget of €500m for transport improvements by 2015 and up to €300m for energy efficiency and renewable energy by 2020.

Carbon emissions have consistently reduced in Bristol since measurement began in 2005, despite a growing economy. Bristol has the ambition of becoming a European hub for low-carbon industry with a target of 17,000 new jobs in creative, digital and low carbon sectors by 2030. Bristol demonstrated 4.7% growth in the Green Economy in 2012.

It has doubled the number of cyclists in recent years and is committed to doubling this number again by 2020 (based on 2010 baseline figures).

Eco-innovation and sustainable employmentBristol’s green business sector is creating new jobs and innovative products and services. It is supported by a strong sector support programme.

One good example of business eco-innovation is the use of a Flying Factory to build super-insulated, high-performance, low energy ‘passive’ buildings using renewable, locally sourced and carbon materials.

Bristol City Council implemented a Sustainable Procurement Strategy which includes auditing its activities and mapping Carbon Dioxide emissions. Bristol provides training for staff under this strategy in effective procurement processes considering environmental and social issues, integrating EU procurement guidance into its own activities and promoting green procurement through conferences and a regional best practice network.

Bristol City Council publishes an annual sustainability report where it measures progress made against environmental targets. Key city institutions are also publishing reports focusing on their environmental performance.

Water: A precious resourceDuring the last ten years pollution incidents from waste water infrastructure have fallen steadily as a result of capacity investment and improved monitoring and maintenance. In addition, the management of sewage treatment has been optimised to maintain Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive compliance. Bristol’s Urban Waste Water Treatment Plant is one of the most energy efficient plants in Europe including being self-sufficient for electricity. Bristol will also co-deliver the Severn River Basin Plan, to achieve ‘Good’ ecological status for rivers.

©Chris Bahn

The Bristol Pound: Bristol’s unique currency

©Chris Bahn

Bristol’s Enterprise Zone

A wild cityBristol has well defined and supported ambitions for the delivery of a wildlife network with benefits for both wildlife and people. A range of targets have been set e.g. all Sites of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) are to be in positive conservation condition by 2026 (currently 58%).

Bristol shows high ambition with regards to objectives for the future, e.g. 27% of the city of Bristol is to be part of a wildlife network and efforts are being made to identify gaps.

Bristol is actively seeking to cover all feasible habitat types via a range of activities; this work includes objectives for wildlife in non-natural habitats e.g. cemeteries and allotments and on previously developed land.

A breath of fresh airBristol has implemented a comprehensive programme of measures to improve air quality through a series of plans, one of the most comprehensive air quality monitoring networks in the UK and setting up an Air Quality Management Area.

As traffic is by far the most significant cause of air pollution, the plans, including the current Joint Local Transport Plan (JLTP), aim to:

• reduce car traffic in the the city centre and commuting corridors;

• reduce car traffic city wide by promoting sustainable transport lifestyles;

• promote less polluting technologies.

The City provides information about air quality in real time on the web.

©Chris Bahn

©Chris Bahn

Bristol Meadows

A scarecrow overlooks St. Werburghs

Energy Performance The energy efficiency programme in Bristol 2005 - 2010 has resulted in a significant decrease in energy use. Reductions are noted as 11% in the Transport sector, 21% in Domestic use, and 26% in the Industry and Commercial Business sector. Given the target was an overall 10% saving, the actual achievements are truly inspiring. Also municipal buildings in Bristol are the most efficient in major UK cities, and have reduced energy use by 28% over a seven year period.

There is a rapid growth in renewable energy and the diversity of sources is promising (onshore wind, solar PV, waste biogas, sewage biogas and solar thermal). The number of renewable energy projects has grown exponentially over the last six years and has now reached 24 MWe installed capacity (2012), which has the capacity to produce in the range of 0.14 MWth or 2% of all energy required. Bristol also has an ambitious energy saving programme for a further future 25% by 2020.

A sustainable food city Bristol has a vision to become a truly sustainable food city, renowned for the vibrancy and diversity of its food culture, and for a food system which, from field to fork, is good for people, places and the planet. Bristol’s ‘Feeding the 5000’ events in 2012 and 2013 served 10,000 delicious hot meals free, using food that would otherwise have gone to waste. Bristol’s household food waste collections, the first in the UK (since wartime), have led to almost a 20,000 tonne reduction in household waste.

©Chris Bahn

©Chris Bahn

Local traders at St. Nicholas Market

Cooking up a storm at the Harbour Festival

Bristol residents make recycling look easy

A festive cyclist takes part in Bristol’s Biggest Bike Ride

©Chris Bahn

©Chris Bahn

The city where green is capitalBristol has a network of multifunctional, inter-connected green spaces and recognises the value of maintaining, enhancing and planning this connectivity for wildlife, recreation, active travel and adaptation to changes in the built and natural environment. A statutory land use planning policy relating to the Strategic Green Infrastructure Network shapes land use decisions and developments.

Over the last 10 years, 98% of business development and 94% of new homes were on brownfield sites including inner city regeneration projects, creating high-density, mixed-use neighbourhoods such as Harbourside and Temple Quay. Also for the future there is focus on rehabilitation of brownfield sites where national government and Bristol assist by providing a framework of plans and funding key infrastructure.

From Waste to ResourcesBristol’s land use plan and Waste Strategy are both aligned to the West of England Joint Waste Strategy. Very good progress has been made in recent years on recycling and also reduction of waste to landfill, including the development of a thermal treatment plant for residual waste to recover energy and divert waste from landfill.

The City Council has rolled out an extensive collection system with a wide range of materials accepted and separated at source, providing full coverage to all residents including a separate food waste collection. All recyclables are processed in the UK therefore promoting further sustainability benefits.

Public participation is encouraged through feedback and there is a strong community involvement focusing on waste reduction and reuse of various waste streams including WEEE, bicycles and furniture.

LJUBLJANA: EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITAL 2016 Ljubljana (Slovenia) will be European Green Capital in 2016. Ljubljana received recognition for raising environmental awareness amongst its citizens, for its sustainability strategy ‘Vision 2025’, its implementation of a range of urban green measures over the past decade and its impressive transportation network.

Transportation in Ljubljana has changed significantly over the past decade. From a city which was rapidly becoming dominated by the car, the focus has now shifted to eco-friendly alternatives.

Twelve European cities applied for the 2016 Award cycle with Essen (Germany), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Nijmegen (The Netherlands), Oslo (Norway) and Umeå (Sweden) being shortlisted. The decision was announced in June 2014.

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT Bristol citizens are environmentally aware and committed – it is estimated that more than 50,000 citizens are involved in “green” activities. Bristol has carried out pioneering communication actions, especially through neighbourhood level

activity and social media to involve citizens in improving the quality of life in the city.

Bristol is a vibrant and multi-cultural city and is leading the way with bottom-up, community-based initiatives. The Walled Garden project, which promotes locally and sustainably grown food to build local pride, is one of more than 30 community food growing projects in and around the city.

The Mayor of Bristol is promoting Bristol as a city for children; every primary school student in Bristol will plant a tree with the motivation to double the tree canopy of the city and to educate and inspire children about the environment.

©D

. Wedam

The Triple Bridge over the Ljubljanica River

©Chris Bahn

An intense game of chess at a Make Sunday Special event

European Green Capital SecretariatThe application process and the work of the evaluation panel and the Jury are facilitated by the European Green Capital Secretariat, currently run by RPS Group, an environmental & communications consultancy based in Ireland. The Secretariat also assists with PR activities related to the Award scheme through the European Green Capital Award website, Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn and through various communication channels such as brochures and press releases.

EUROPEAN GREEN CAPITALS TO DATE

www.europeangreencapital.eu

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ISBN 978-92-79-43844-8DOI 10.2779/58963