Bristol has worked for over a decade to become the UK's greenest city, with its 2003 community strategy aiming to make it "a green capital in Europe." Key milestones included founding the Bristol Green Capital Partnership in 2007 and hosting the European Green Capital award in 2015. Bristol won the 2015 European Green Capital award due to many years of pioneering environmental action, strong performance across categories like recycling and green jobs, effective partnerships, and ambitious investment in sustainability and transportation totaling over €800 million. As the 2015 Green Capital, Bristol empowered communities through €2 million in grants for 187 local projects, educated residents on sustainability, and convened voices of cities at the COP21 climate conference.

1. European Union Committee of the Regions
8th September 2015

2. Our Journey, so far
Long journey to make Bristol the UK’s greenest city, with many landmarks.
The Green Capital aspects are:
• 2003 Community Strategy:
“Bristol; a green capital in Europe – creating sustainable communities
and improving the quality of life.”
• 2007 Bristol Green Capital Partnership founded
• 2008 European Green Capital Award created
• 2015 Bristol is European Green Capital

3. Why Did We Win?
• Many years of pioneering, innovative
environmental action
• Strong performance across 12
categories
• Strong community action and
effective partnerships, including
businesses
• Ambitious and real investment
in the future
• We applied!
• Exciting plans for 2015
• Sense of fun!

4. Why Did We Win?
• 100% increase in cycling levels
• 95% development on brownfield land
• 50% waste recycling rate
• 25% increase in home energy efficiency
• 5% p.a. growth in the green economy
• Green Council operations – EMAS accredited
• €500m investment in transport being delivered
• €300m investment in energy being delivered

5. Bristol City Council
• Commissioning body
• Supporting and
steering programme
and grants
• Focus on long term
impact
Bristol 2015 Ltd
• Short term company with
independent board
• Set up to facilitate the
year; raising funds;
planning and delivering
some of the programme
Key organisations
Bristol Green Capital
Partnership
• Independent CIC
• Over 800 member
organisations
• Key legacy organisation
after 2015

6. Our vision

7. Engaging though Art: The Bristol Whales

8. Empowering Community Action
• £2m of funding for community
led projects
• £1k-£50k grants
• 187 Projects
• 250 organisations involved
• Every neighbourhood

9. Empowering through Education

10. Sustainability Leadership

11. COP21: Convening the Voice of Cities
Local Government Pavilion
COP21: Convening the Voice of Cities
The Cities and Regions Pavilion