Bristol ranks seventh on climate action

Bristol City Council has ranked joint-seventh in progress towards net zero greenhouse gas emissions in a list of 182 councils across the UK.

The news comes on the fifth anniversary of the council’s Climate Emergency declaration.

The list was produced by Climate Emergency UK, an organisation supporting council and campaigners’ climate action with data and resources. Their Climate Action Scorecards analyse and compare the action taken by local councils to combat the climate crisis.

The top seven comprised several London boroughs, Edinburgh, Glasgow and Bath – the latter of which ranked fifth.

Green Party councillors including Katy Grant and Carla Denyer have welcomed the recognition for Bristol’s climate action – photo: Jon Craig

Katy Grant, co-shadow cabinet member for climate and ecology, said: “In the last few years, we have seen dramatically improved climate action across the city.

“As the largest group on the council, Greens have consistently pushed for stronger commitments to emissions reduction, carbon accounting and metrics, building climate resilience, and protecting habitat and biodiversity in the city.

“The council also has a tireless and expert staff team to thank for the realisation of some significant step-changes in the delivery of these commitments.”

The scorecard suggests there are key areas where more could be done to build sustainability in the city, such as transport and biodiversity.

Carla Denyer, co-shadow cabinet member for climate and ecology, MP candidate for Bristol Central and national co-leader of the Green Party, said: “After May 2024, in the new collaborative committee system, Bristol’s Green Councillor group intend to get working on transport climate action, including implementation of the workplace parking levy, improved routes for walking and cycling and improving Bristol’s public transport network including bus franchising, safer streets around schools, and much faster rollout of electric car charging points.

“Greens have been working hard to ensure the new Local Plan contains higher standards for addressing embodied carbon and sustainable energy use in new buildings”.

Clifton Down councillor Carla Denyer is stepping down as councillor in May 2024 to concentrate on her campaign to become Bristol Central MP – photo: Green Party of England and Wales

Denyer has announced she will not be re-standing for councillor of Clifton Down in the local elections in May 2024, in order to focus on efforts to become Bristol’s first Green MP. The new constituency she is running for, Bristol Central, includes Clifton Down in its catchment.

Bristol Green Party is in the process of selecting a new candidate for this local council seat, and is in a favourable position to win majority control of the council following the May elections, after two by-election wins this year.

The party has stated that a Green-led 2024 city council will accelerate commitments made in the Ecological Emergency Action plan, including more green space managed for nature.

Grant added: “Bristol has a commendable profile as a city with climate ambitions. Now we need to make sure that this is followed up with measurable action in all areas of city life.”

A spokesperson for Bristol City Council said: “Actions are underway across every part of the city to respond to the climate and ecological emergency we face.

“Council actions include establishing the pioneering City Leap Partnership to deliver over £400 million of investment into decarbonising the city’s energy systems, the mass installation of LED streetlights to save over 10,500 tonnes of CO2, supporting neighbourhoods to deliver community climate action plans and providing schemes for individuals to reduce the carbon footprint of their homes.

“The council is responsible for just 0.5 per cent of direct emissions in Bristol, making a collective approach to climate action vital.

“We will continue our collective approach to tackling the challenge we face as laid out in our landmark One City Climate Strategy.”

This piece of independent journalism is supported by The Extra Mile and the Bristol24/7 public and business membership.

Main photo: Extinction Rebellion

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• Bristol declares a just transition to net zero

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