One City Climate Strategy A strategy for a carbon neutral, climate resilient Bristol by 2030 Bristol One City Climate Strategy A strategy for a carbon neutral, climate resilient Bristol by 2030 1 Foreword From the One City Environmental Sustainability Board We are facing a climate In the One City Plan, Bristol This strategy sets the vision for where This strategy is a call to action. committed to becoming carbon we need to be in 2030 based on We call on you, as people who live, emergency. As a city neutral and climate resilient by 2030. sound science. We would like to thank work, visit and invest in Bristol, to join we need to act now to To achieve this, over the next decade, our colleagues on Bristol’s Advisory with us on this exciting decade of we need to radically rethink how we Committee on Climate Change for transformation. reduce direct and indirect live, work and invest in the city. their review and challenge of the We will engage widely to understand evidence for Bristol. carbon emissions to net We also need action regionally, how we can work together to achieve nationally and internationally. We recognise that achieving our vision the ambitions set out in this strategy. zero. We need to prepare will not be easy. There are entrenched However, this does not mean that any This provides an opportunity to take market and wider forces that will organisation or individual should wait and adapt to deal with a collaborative, inclusive and citywide support existing fossil-fuel dependent, for a plan to be shared. This strategy approach to make this a fair transition. the projected impacts of consumption-based systems. We gives the city a focus and direction and climate change. As Bristol’s Environmental will need to show strong leadership provides the framework within which Sustainability Board, we are proud to create opportunities for all to we can each take responsibility and to lead this transition for the city. participate in the benefits of change work together to transform the city. Representing a range of organisations, with its costs shared fairly. we have come together to set out our We have an exciting opportunity to shared vision in this strategy. address the challenge of climate Given Bristol’s strong history in change whilst also delivering new delivering climate action, we are homes, reducing inequalities, creating excited to work hand in hand across a city with more green spaces, places the city to continue to lead the way. for our children to play, cleaner air, We will move faster than the national jobs and opportunities for all. average, learning with other cities on Cities are complex places. We know our journey. that no single organisation, nor even the organisations that make up the Bristol’s One City Environmental Environmental Sustainability Board Sustainability Board, February 2020 can deliver the scale and pace of https://www.bristolonecity.com/ change we need alone. environment/the-environment-board/ Bristol One City Climate Strategy A strategy for a carbon neutral, climate resilient Bristol by 2030 2 Foreword From the One City Environmental Sustainability Board This strategy is: This strategy is not: - A strategy to set a shared vision for - A delivery plan which details the Bristol in 2030. exact route for the city to 2030. - Co-ordinated by Bristol’s One City Detailed delivery plans will be Environmental Sustainability Board, developed and consulted on. on behalf of the City Office and the - Owned by any one organisation, One City Boards. such Bristol City Council. We will - A strategy for the city that will need people from across the city to need the collaboration of multiple meet its goals. partners across the city to reach our - Perfect. We are facing a climate city goals. emergency and we have - Built on the currently available developed this strategy at a pace evidence base. There are gaps in commensurate with the challenge. understanding and more work will - Static. As the world around us need to be undertaken over time. evolves in terms of knowledge, - Integrated. It covers both direct and legislation and policy, technology indirect carbon emissions as well as and the market, we will adapt climate resilience. to take advantage of these opportunities. Bristol One City Climate Strategy A strategy for a carbon neutral, climate resilient Bristol by 2030 3 Executive summary Bristol’s climate vision Bristol’s strategy is built on a strong Bristol’s climate strategy 3. Heat decarbonisation: “In 2030, Bristol is carbon neutral and evidence base; setting a clear pathway The action that is needed to achieve implementing a carbon neutral climate resilient. We have collectively to carbon neutrality for our direct our ambition is complex and multi- energy method for heating and hot achieved a fair and inclusive transition; emissions within Bristol. Our evidence faceted. water. This is one of the areas that helps us to start the journey for will be supported by City Leap Energy capturing the opportunities of new The strategy details ten key areas reducing our wider emissions and Partnership, a radical new approach jobs and investment, improved health, where climate action is needed to enhancing our resilience to future to delivering energy infrastructure in wellbeing and education, and a better achieve the vision for Bristol in 2030. climate change. The challenge is Bristol environment for local people. We Across each of these, we need action huge, and we recognise that this is have helped lead the way to a safer at every level. These are: 4. Electricity: make our electricity use global climate.” just the start. As our knowledge base as smart and flexible as possible (to 1. Transport: switching to significantly grows, and as the world around us support electricity decarbonisation Introduction and approach more walking, cycling and zero changes, we will adapt and evolve to nationally), maximise local renewable carbon public transport modes; Bristol’s Environmental Sustainability deliver the best outcomes for the city. energy generation and increase converting the remaining vehicles Board has come together to develop Taking action on climate change system resilience to zero carbon fuels; transforming a One City Climate Strategy. presents a great opportunity for freight, aviation and shipping 5. Consumption and waste: We are building on Bristol’s challenges Bristol; supporting our One City Plan responsible buying of goods and 2. Buildings: retrofitting and building and opportunities, including the ambition to become a fair, healthy services, alongside zero carbon from them to become carbon neutral and inequalities in the city, but also the and sustainable city. A city of hope waste management existing climate action and the and aspiration, where everyone can resilient to a changing climate, calling 6. Business and the economy: Bristol networks and knowledge in the city. share in its success. on central government to develop businesses move to be carbon neutral However, in this strategy we are a supportive planning framework to and climate resilient, capturing job describing a step change. deliver this opportunities for all through the We need urgent and transformative transition action in response to this complex, 7. Public, voluntary, community and critical global challenge. social enterprise services: carbon neutral public and VCSE services and supply chains that are also prepared for future climate conditions and hazards Bristol One City Climate Strategy A strategy for a carbon neutral, climate resilient Bristol by 2030 4 Executive summary 8. Natural environment: restoring, protecting and 1. Transport enhancing these spaces and wildlife within them as the climate continues to change 9. Food: a resilient supply chain, with food and drink produced locally, sustainably and moving to a more plant- based diet 10. Infrastructure interdependencies 2. Buildings 10. Infrastructure interdependencies: collaboration in running vital services to the city such as water, transport, waste, ICT and energy to improve their climate resilience and embed carbon neutrality across different systems. Data 3. Heat Across all these key areas there will need to be the 9. Food decarbonisation skills, funding, national action and local leadership, data, Infrastructure Funding CO2 infrastructure and engagement to enable the action to happen. Radical system changes will be required across all of these areas, at every level. Engagement National action Delivery, monitoring and review 8. Natural 4. Electricity This strategy is for all of us to deliver, and nobody need environment wait for permission to take action. However, in recognition that we need co-ordinated action Skills in some areas to deliver the scale of change required, the 5. Consumption City Office and the Environmental Sustainability Board will 7. Public HOSPITAL take the lead in co-ordinating the development of delivery services & waste plans and a clear framework for monitoring and review. Work has already started, so we will hit the ground running. We will engage widely, and work with a wide range of organisations, community groups and individuals to transform Bristol. 6. Business & the economy Bristol One City Climate Strategy A strategy for a carbon neutral, climate resilient Bristol by 2030 5 Contents 1. Vision and principles: The vision and principles that inform and guide our strategy. 2. Introduction and approach: Setting out our approach and evidence base. 3. Challenges and opportunities for Bristol: Setting out the context that this strategy will be delivered in; our city of passion and paradoxes. 4. Our climate strategy: An overview of the strategy’s structure. 4a. Enabling conditions for change: The radical system changes that we need to deliver our strategy. 4b. Delivery themes: The key areas where climate action is required in the city. 5. Monitoring and review: Our approach to monitoring and review of the strategy. 6. Delivery: Our initial approach to planning and implementation for this decade of transformation.