Help make Bristol (even) greener with Bristol Climate Action Investment

Abundance Investment is an online platform that allows individuals to invest in projects that deliver positive environmental and social impact. In this blog, Matt Reeves, their Head of Marketing, outlines how Bristol residents have the opportunity to put their money to work to deliver real projects in their community.

Bristol has long been a pioneer in climate action, leading the way with ambitious commitments to sustainability. In November 2018, Bristol City Council was the first UK local authority to declare a climate emergency aiming to achieve carbon neutrality across the city. Leading by example, it’s cut its own direct emissions by two-thirds since 2015.

Now, residents have an exciting new opportunity to help the city’s green transition. Abundance Investment is working with Bristol Council to launch the first Bristol Climate Action Investment, offering locals a chance to directly support green initiatives while earning a financial return.

This is a new take on an old idea. It used to be common for UK councils, including Bristol, to borrow money from their residents as an alternative to institutional lenders or the government, but the idea fell from favour due to high administrative costs.

We’ve reinvented the idea for the digital age. Bristol was part of a government-funded research project with Leeds University to design new local finance models, which led to the launch in 2020 of the first council investment to fund green projects.

Since then we’ve raised over £11 million for councils across the country – from Camden to the Cotswolds – helping them develop new renewables, sustainable transport schemes and nature-based climate solutions. Now we’re excited to bring this democratic finance model to Bristol.

How does Bristol’s Climate Action Investment work?

Bristol City Council aims to raise up to £1 million through this first investment to install a range of energy efficiency and renewable technologies at locations such as a children’s respite care home in Lawrence Weston and other council premises that serve the community.

These are expected to include heat pumps, solar panels and LED lighting. Not only will they reduce carbon but they will save costs, making the city stronger and helping secure a positive future for its citizens.

By investing in Bristol through Abundance, residents can contribute directly to these projects while earning a fixed annual return for five years. And everyone can be part of it, because the minimum investment is just £5.

Why get involved?

Investing in the Bristol Climate Action Investment is a way to make a tangible impact on the city’s efforts to achieve a carbon neutral future:

• Support Bristol’s climate goals: Your investment will fund real projects that cut carbon emissions, enhance energy efficiency and build resilience to climate change.
• Earn a fixed return: Unlike charitable donations, our Climate Action Investments provide a five-year competitive fixed return while making a positive impact.
• Keep it local: Instead of traditional investment options that may not align with your values, your money is working hard to build a better future for Bristol.
• Join a community of changemakers: Become part of a growing movement of residents committed to making their cities greener, healthier and more sustainable.

How to invest?

Investing through Abundance is simple and transparent.

If you are not already a customer you need to open an account at  www.abundanceinvestment.com. This is free and straightforward and our customer service team is on hand to help. Abundance is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 525432).

Find out more about our work with councils and learn about the Bristol investment at abundanceinvestment.com/bristol. The investment will launch early afternoon on Monday 3 March.

Who are Abundance Investment?

We’re an award-winning online platform that allows individuals to invest in projects that deliver positive environmental and social impact. Our investments support councils and organisations in funding vital initiatives to help build greener places and a net-zero future.

Abundance was founded over a decade ago on the belief that everyone should have the choice to invest their money into genuinely green projects that help create a better future. Since then, thousands of people have put their money to work with us, with investments ranging from just £5 to over £100,000.

Our investments are structured to be accessible to a wide range of investors with a low minimum investment. Every pound our customers invest is used to build new green infrastructure meaning the whole community can both support and benefit from the green transition.

Bristol has always been at the forefront of climate action and this is a chance for its residents to be part of the movement. Investing in the Bristol Climate Action Investment is not only supporting vital carbon cutting projects but also demonstrating that local action can drive meaningful change. We think it’s an exciting way that any resident can put their money to work to create a better, greener future for Bristol.

Investments are long term and may be hard to sell. This is not a savings account. Changes in market interest rates may affect the value of your investment if you sell before maturity.

This work was made possible by funding from the EU’s Horizon Europe Climate Neutral and Smart Cities Mission as part of the Net Zero Investment Co-innovation Lab – a project led by Bristol City Council, funded by the European Union, which aims to create a series of financial mechanisms to speed up and increase investment in climate action and support zero carbon business growth.