On 17 March, the Committee on Climate Change (CCC), the UK’s independent adviser on tackling climate change, visited Bristol as part of a national tour. They were hosted by Marvin Rees and Bristol City Council and, as part of their visit, were shown a series of presentations highlighting the work underway in Bristol to tackle the climate crisis at every level. From community-level efforts, to collaborative partnership working via the One City Environment Board, to the City Leap initiative, to groups such as the Climate Leaders taking action in their own operations as well as our local expert panel, the Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change ensuring that steps taken are informed by climate science.

Emma Geen of the Bristol Disability Equalities Forum and Kirsty Hammond of Heart of BS13, two of our Community Climate Action project community partners, spoke about the potential impact of climate policies in their communities and the efforts they are making to tackle the climate crisis in a way that also improves the lives of local people. The CCC members were extremely impressed by the climate work being done at the community level in Bristol, stressing that the rest of the country should follow the example.

The CCC reiterated the importance of including resilience – local preparations to minimise the impact of inevitable hazards and shocks that climate change will create for the city – in all environmental planning and action.

And as a result of the visit, the CCC have gained:

• Connection with the Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change, providing further opportunity to share insights between local and national policymakers.
• A flavour of mass of local action underway in Bristol at every level – both within and outside of Bristol Green Capital Partnership’s wide membership.
• A better understanding of some of the ‘asks’ from cities like Bristol that would enable fast and fair decarbonisation, including: financing, long term regulatory conditions that provide business certainty, and community voices and experience represented in all decision making.
• Insight into the pioneering community-led climate action work being developed in Bristol through the codesign of community climate action plans.
• An introduction to how the Centre for Sustainable Energy’s online impact carbon calculator tool can be a useful and accessible starting point for communities starting their own climate action journey.

Following such a long period of remote working, it is reassuring to know that the CCC have taken this early opportunity to visit real places and people – and we look forward to hearing insights generated from other places on their tour.

Further information and links

• The national Committee on Climate Change
• The Bristol Advisory Committee on Climate Change
• The Community Climate Action Project
• The Climate Action Programme