Bristol becomes first city to get serious about CO2

On 10 November Bristol council voted to Get Serious about CO2.

They passed a motion in support of the campaign that committed to:

Reduce emissions in its area year-on-year
towards a goal of cutting emissions by at least 40% by 2020.
Produce a carbon reduction action plan
for both its own operations and the wider city by spring 2010
Report annually on progress
with implementation proceeding as soon as possible.

Liberal Democrat Councillor Neil Harrison put forward the motion.

This is our chance to nail our colours to the mast and show that this council really is serious about climate change and about reducing our role in it.

Councillor Neil Harrison, Bristol City Council

More support for Climate action

But the meeting also noted that councils needed more support from Government to make the scale of emissions cuts needed.

The council resolved to call on Government for

More money and support
for councils to act on climate change
A duty on climate change for councils
that fail to act by 2012.

Bristol group brings it on

Bristol Friends of the Earth were instrumental in getting the council commited to tackling climate change.

They spent the summer building public support and awareness of the campaign.

This six minute film was made for the group by one of their supporters, local filmmaker Claire Evans.

It raised the profile of the campaign in the council and built support for the motion.

Piling up the postcards

After a first round of stalls, the group did some serious targeting.

The group coordinator reports:

After the Festival of Nature, I did a breakdown of the completed cards by ward. I actively tried to recruit volunteers from wards where we didn't have many cards signed, and from Labour and Conservative wards - because I knew the Liberal Democrats were already on-board.

I used the Bristol Environment email network, emails to members, and networking with other groups in target areas, to distribute a lot of cards around Bristol.

I just asked volunteers if they'd be prepared to get 10 people in their area to sign cards. This would actually be quite a productive way for smaller groups to work - it's a much easier prospect than taking stalls to all areas of a city, and allows you to target your efforts.

Jane Stevenson, Bristol Friends of the Earth Coordinator

Getting groups on board

In the run up to getting the motion debated the group got in touch with trade unions, green groups and student bodies where they had good contacts .

They asked them to send messages of support for the motion to the council.

The result was:

South West TUC
Sustainability South West
Forum for the Future
Bristol University Students Union

all sent letters supporting the campaign in advance of the council debate.

What worked?

The group sums up what they think the most important success factors were:

Pre-existing networks and a positive reputation
that Bristol Friends of the Earth could draw on
Getting an enthusiastic council member on board
who could steer the motion through the complex machinery of local government
Smart targeting of lobbying
through postcards in the most influential wards
Teamwork!
Between the councillor, the local group and regional local campaigner.