Bristol’s first citizen’s assembly, which will see a group of residents help shape the city’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, will take place this weekend.

The citizens’ assembly will give members of the public the time and opportunity to learn about and discuss a topic, before reaching conclusions and then making recommendations to be taken forward.

The first topics of discussion at the assembly will sit within the broad themes of the environment and climate change; transport; and health and social care.

Councillor Asher Craig, Deputy Mayor said: “This is such an exciting opportunity for residents across our communities to help shape Bristol’s recovery following COVID-19. Only through listening to the voices of residents, can we truly create a city that offers opportunity for all. I’m proud our assembly actively sought the involvement of all communities and reflects the rich diversity of people living in Bristol.”

Commenting on the assembly, co-chairs of the Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change Prof Jim Longhurst and Dr Jo House, say, “This citizens assembly provides a valuable chance for the public to shape Bristol’s ambition to become carbon neutral by 2030 and responds to Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change recommendation that, in delivery, the One City Climate Strategy delivery is more explicit about the scale of societal change required achieving a rate of change, which the committee estimates needs to almost double. We hope that this is the first opportunity of many to develop the democratic mandate further and increase understanding of the climate challenge and interrelated issues such as health, resilience and inclusive economic development.”

The first citizens’ assembly will be held this Saturday 16 January and Sunday 17 January. The assembly will discuss and answer the question ‘How do we recover from COVID-19 and create a better future for all in Bristol?’

Simeran Bachra, UK Cities Manager at CDP and a member of Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change, is presenting to the Citizen’s Assembly during its opening weekend.

Further information about Bristol’s Citizens’ Assembly can be found on bristol.citizenspace.com/ycof/

Exactly one year following its establishment, the Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change (BACCC) has published the Annual Report on Year One to review its first year of operations and key contributions to Bristol’s response to the climate emergency.

This report captures BACCC’s key activities to date, its conclusions on the One City Climate Strategy and the evidence base that has been used in the development of the strategy, as well as recommendations for future work.

The BACCC celebrates the level of the city’s climate ambitions and looks forward to playing a continued and supportive role – working closely with One City thematic boards, Bristol City Council and other agencies – as the city begins to translate strategy into detailed action and delivery plans.

The BACCC has identified its priority areas for the next year as:

• To work closely with the National Committee on Climate Change and other key agencies – to understand and contextualise key developments for Bristol and exchange insights and learnings from Bristol.
• To increase the focus on climate risk and adaptation needs.
• To monitor progress of delivery of the One City Climate Strategy.
• To support local Climate Emergency communication and engagement activity.

The BACCC’s Annual Report on Year One is now available here.

The Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change (BACCC) welcomes the development of the new One City Climate Strategy, which sets out an ambitious plan to try to achieve the goal of Bristol being carbon neutral and climate resilient by 2030.

The Committee understands that decarbonisation and adapting to climate change will not be easy, and welcomes this important first step. In line with the requirements of a climate emergency, these reports have been developed rapidly and with limited resources, with the intention of catalysing urgent action. As such it provides a good evidence base from which to get started, whilst recognising that in some areas more evidence is needed, and this should be brought in to decision-making as it becomes available. The focus should now shift to developing the urgent next steps that are needed in areas like transport and heating.

The BACCC looks forward to continuing to work with local government and City partners and to advise on the development of the evidence base and delivery plans in order to help the city achieve its climate change ambitions.