‘A decarbonisation plan is a focus of involvement for all citizens’

The unanimously adopted council motion on November 13 to pledge Bristol to carbon neutrality by 2030 was passionately supported by the LibDems. This will require transformation of how we produce, transport and consume. Effective partnerships with businesses, communities, regional and central government will be needed.

The Lib Dems relish the opportunities this open dialogue offers to bind together our oppositional politics and society, and to reach out to communities. We’re all in this together: impacts on lifestyles must be fairly distributed and protect those who are struggling. Instead of doom-laden hair-shirt paralysis we see a bright future if we all co-operate to action this now.

A decarbonisation plan is a focus of involvement for all citizens, organisations and authorities in the city, from which may flow new powers, revenue streams or investment paths; initially as stepping stones. We’ll need to be aspirational, creative and pragmatic – all crucial qualities in a changing world. We’ll also need to clearly and honestly communicate in order to maintain personal freedoms while making informed choices within our planet’s environmental limits. We must be able to show measurable achievements, with environmental impact assessments against all key decisions.

Once again, Bristol could lead the world: as we did during 2006-2012, when the Lib Dems made radical changes to all council services, earning this city the title of European Green Capital 2015.  Now, as then, we are confident the skills, creativity and determination of Bristol people will carry us towards carbon neutrality, without which we are all, quite frankly, stuffed. We envision a happier, more resilient and sustainable city with valued growth in new experiences, learning and opportunities.

Comprehensive data is not available for consumption and emissions from outside the council’s operations, so we’ll need to work from current impact and future potential effects to agreed targets based on verifiable data.

The action plan should be developed from our Green Capital experience and best international practice, and should encompass all and more of the following:

• Power and energy: promote the research and delivery of all forms of large-scale and local sustainable energy through the Bristol Energy company, including smart metering, production, storage and distribution. Bristol (and Swansea Bay) have special advantages including biogas and hydrogen production.
• Building energy efficiency: campaign for all new homes to be zero-carbon, incentivise retrofitted insulation and extend district heating from clean heat sources.
• Transport: develop a mass rapid transit network that is zero-carbon (utilising electric/hydrogen-powered investment in trains and buses, along with new modes of transport). Encourage use of the Park & Ride, car-sharing, cycling and walking, and franchise cleaner Bristol buses to improve services. Also create zero emissions zones.
• Industry and commerce: mobilise companies and organisations behind the city’s decarbonisation plan. Develop entrepreneur groups.
• Food and farming: promote sourcing from local farms, along with surplus food reuse, biogas and composting schemes amongst local businesses, neighbourhood greening and tree-planting for more biodiversity, and carbon sequestration reforestation.
• Waste: promote the zero waste objective through a circular economy, which encourages reuse and turning waste into energy while phasing out landfill.

All of this will require significant engagement with the campaign, and may require a programme of education along with incentives to promote the benefits. Those benefits include cleaner air and neighbourhoods, safer roads, less congestion, faster journeys, enhanced communities and wellbeing. They will also encourage sustainable economic development.

And when it comes to money, decarbonisation will require significant investment. Bristol’s Mini-Stern estimated that 47 per cent CO2 reduction needs £6.9bn investment, though prompt actions can save short-term costs. Support will be necessary for some (as currently about 13 per cent of Bristol’s citizens experience fuel poverty).

If we act sensibly and together in the face of this existential threat, the LibDems believe that Bristol, and elsewhere, can deliver a better future that is both green and gold. But there’s no time to lose.

Anthony Negus is a Liberal Democrat councillor for Cotham.