Bristol recognised for climate plans
Bristol’s ambitious plans to become climate neutral by 2030 have been recognised by the European Commission with the city receiving the EU Mission Label for Climate Neutral and Smart Cities.
The EU Mission Label is a mark of the European Commission’s confidence in the quality of Bristol’s plans and is a powerful means of demonstrating credibility to potential future investors in city climate projects. It gives Bristol access to the Climate City Capital Hub, an international finance resource to help secure the substantial investment needed to reduce the city’s emissions.
Bristol is one of 39 new cities to be awarded the label for their credible climate action and investment plans, as judged by the European Commission. It brings the total number of cities with the Label to over 90, with 112 participating in the Cities Mission.
Receiving the label on behalf of the city, Councillor Heather Mack, Deputy Leader of Bristol City Council, said: “Bristol is a leading city addressing the climate crisis and is delivering substantial investment with partners through initiatives such as Bristol City Leap, the Green Growth West Fund and the new Bristol Climate Action Investment for citizens. This local collaboration is key to our success, and I would like to thank the many partners who have worked to create these new plans.
“Receiving the EU Mission Label shows our One City climate plans are robust and being recognised internationally. Our engagement with international partners, through Bristol City Leap, is already delivering new private sector investment and creating jobs for local people. With access to additional funding and support we now have the potential to accelerate progress.”
“Alongside this international investment Bristol residents also have a chance to invest in the city through Bristol Climate Action Investment, where over £700,000 has already been raised in the last two months. Run by our partners Abundance Investment, the scheme offers a fixed return of 4.2% interest a year across a five-year term. I hope that we will be able to give more residents the opportunity to invest in their city and to benefit financially from that.”
The Green Growth West Fund and the Bristol Climate Action Investment scheme for citizens were both developed with funding from the EU Horizon Europe programme following Bristol’s participation in the Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission. The UK has access to Horizon Europe funding because it opted to be part of that programme.
“Receiving the EU Mission Label is a great achievement by the many partners in Bristol in recognition of our climate plans. The label is a powerful endorsement that will bring confidence to investors, boosting private investment, to speed up delivery of our plans to help reach our climate goals. We always value the collaboration by our many city partners, and the importance and quality of their contributions has again been recognised in this initiative.”
Councillor Martin Fodor, Co-Chair of the One City Environment board
The plans or Climate City Contract were developed by a team of over 20 partner organisations: Bristol City Council, Bristol & Bath Regional Capital, Bristol Energy Network, Bristol City Leap, Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership, Bristol Waste, Bristol Water, Business West, Cabot Institute, City of Bristol College, Centre for Sustainable Energy, Enterprise Mobility, Future Leap, National Grid, NatWest, North Bristol NHS Trust, City Office, OVO Energy, Retrofit West, SevernNet, TLT Solicitors, Wales & West Utilities, West of England Combined Authority, Wessex Water, University of Bristol, University of the West of England, Vattenfall UK.
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