Jonathon Porritt will launch plans to drive forward a new sustainable Bristol city region initiative to a select audience of business leaders and local politicians this Friday (14th March) - on behalf of Forum for the Future, the sustainable development charity that he co-founded over 10 years ago.
The new initiative, to be launched at Bristol Zoo Gardens (1.45pm), has been developed in response to growing concerns about the future of cities around the world.
With nine in ten people in the UK now living in cities, the majority are already struggling with issues including congestion, pollution, limited housing, energy production and consumption and waste.
The Sustainable Bristol City Region Programme is a 10-year plan to bring together leaders from the public, private and NGO sectors in the Bristol City Region to develop and implement solutions to these problems.
Organisations supporting the project include Arup, Bath University, Bristol City Council, Bristol University, Business West, the Centre for Sustainable Energy, the Environment Agency, Hewlett Packard, the Soil Association, the South West Regional Development Agency, Sustrans, University of the West of England, JT Group, Wessex Water and the West of England Partnership.
Jonathon Porritt describes the project as “a unique opportunity to turn theory into practice in establishing the kind of sustainable urban living on which our future depends”.
He went on to say:
“A growing number of cities the world over are now pioneering innovative new ideas, and leading cities in the UK need to be both learning from that network and taking a lead for themselves. The Bristol City Region is ideally placed to demonstrate precisely that kind of leadership, and Forum for the Future is very excited at the prospect of helping to make that happen.”
Forum for the Future selected the Bristol region as the best place for the project as it is the area with most potential for greater sustainability.
“Bristol is already doing a lot of work in the area of sustainability and there seems to be a huge appetite to do more”, says Project Manager Susan Warren.
“We feel there’s real potential to make the Bristol region a world leader on sustainability”.
Bristol City Council and Business West are key stakeholders in the programme. Commenting on Forum for the Future’s approach, Helen Holland, Leader of Bristol City Council said:
"It is our over-riding aim to make Bristol a truly sustainable city with a low carbon economy and efficient use of resources. The planned developments at Hengrove, a talking point in the media this week, are a good example of our intentions."
"Bristol is pleased to be rated by Forum for the Future as the third best city in its sustainable city index, and the highest of the core cities. We recognise there is still a long way to go, and will continue to work in partnership with our sub-region colleagues and others towards a more sustainable future."
John Savage, CEO of Business West welcomes the programme on behalf of the city region’s business community:
“Cities and city regions are clearly the key to continued economic and social success. The need to shape and build them into sustainable and desirable entities is paramount both for the good of business development and for social comfort and cohesion. Business West welcomes this initiative by Forum for the Future, which can play a key role in shaping the development of a sustainable Bristol city region"
In working with such big organisations the partnership expects the programme to reach over one million voters, students and employees in the Bristol city regionand yield world-class exemplar projects in issues including transport, housing, local food, waste and education.
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All media enquiries to Imogen Martineau, Head of Communications on 07944 401111 or at i.martineau@forumforthefuture.org.uk
Notes to Editors
Forum for the Future – the sustainable development charity – finds practical ways that private and public organisations can deliver a sustainable future.
For more information on Forum’s Sustainable Bristol City Region Programme and wider Sustainable Cities work see: www.forumforthefuture.org.uk/sustainable-bristol
Organisations supporting the programme include:
· Acanthus Ferguson Mann Architects
· Alastair Sawday Publishing
· Arup
· Barratt’s
· Bath University
· Bristol City Council
· Bristol University
· Business West
· Centre for Sustainable Energy
· Connecting Bristol
· The Converging World
· Environment Agency
· Government Office South West
· Hewlett Packard
· JT Group
· Resource Futures
· Soil Association
· South West Regional Development Agency
· Sustrans
· The Converging World
· University of West of England
· Wessex Water
· West of England Partnership.
