In March 2008 we launched an ambitious 10-year programme to help make the greater Bristol area the most sustainable city-region in the UK. We aim to generate investment in environmental and social initiatives worth £20 million.

We are tackling key sustainability challenges: making our housing more energy efficient; helping organisations cut their carbon emissions; reducing dependency on private cars; encouraging local food; and raising awareness of sustainability.

We want to make the Bristol city-region a model for the UK and for the world. We want to create a common understanding of what it means to be a sustainable city, deliver world-class projects in key areas, and share our experience. With more and more people worldwide living in cities each year, it is crucial to be able to show people what sustainable city living really looks like.

With its mix of creative businesses, charities and dynamic individuals, we believe the city region has firm green foundations on which to build. Although the area faces real challenges from projected growth in housing, transport and the economy, there is an appetite and ambition from key players to address these issues and deliver a truly sustainable city-region.

Our work

We are working on a range of projects in partnership with national, regional and local government, business, universities and leading sustainability organisations, focusing on the four local authority areas of Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, and Bath & North East Somerset.

We are challenging the region’s organisations to commit to 10% cuts in their carbon emissions by 2012. The West of England Carbon Challenge is unique because it targets organisations across all sectors in a single region; it asks them to commit to a fixed target for emissions cuts; and it supports them with the practical guidance and resources they need to achieve those reductions. 

Our homes are responsible for a quarter of the UK's carbon footprint and it is vital that we improve their energy efficiency. Refit West aims to pioneer a practical model which can be rolled out nationwide, by developing cost-effective mechanisms to reduce significantly the emissions from our existing housing stock.

We want to help people get out of their cars and travel by other means. We helped launch walkit.com in Bristol, an award-winning website which encourages people to leave their car and walk. We are developing a business plan for a regional smart card, similar to London’s Oyster card, offering a convenient cashless way of paying for public transport.

We are developing projects to support local, healthy food and to raise the awareness and understanding of sustainability. We are also funding a research project with the University of the West of England looking at urban sustainability. 

Contacts

Paul Rainger
Ben Ross