THE PROJECT
THE PROJECT
This project seeks to engage the public in what it means for Bristol to be a "low carbon city", enabling everyone to have their say and help shape the future that we want to see. The aims are to:
- Engage the public and raise awareness about what a low carbon future means
- Find out how people feel about two different potential futures, which features are desirable and which we want to avoid
- Start a public discussion about how Bristol can become a low carbon city, and gather opinions, thoughts and new ideas
THE RESEARCH
The two scenarios are the result of a 4 year EPSRC funded PhD research project undertaken by Dr Rose Bailey at the University of the West of England during the period 2008-2012, supported by Bristol City Council and The Centre for Sustainable Energy. This research aimed to explore how the Bristol city region might achieve its 2050 carbon reduction target of 80%, to help close the gap between 'where we are now' and 'where we need to be'.
To do this, 140 local, influential people in businesses, charities, local councils, and universities were asked "what would you like Bristol to look like in 2050 if it was a low carbon city, and how do we make it happen?" Through a three-stage consultation process, the two different possible futures in the pictures were described, called 'X' and 'Y', and the steps that might achieve these scenarios were then mapped out by working backwards to the present.
Read more about the research here: "An exploration of the low carbon futures for the Bristol region"
THE WEBSITE
In 2012 Rose was the recipient of the John Rose Award from the Institution of Environmental Sciences. The award aims to help exceptional research fulfil its potential by communicating it beyond the scientific community. The grant is awarded to a project that demonstrates innovative, quality research in environmental sciences, to be used the dissemination of the winner's project, aiding in promoting the work as widely as possible and so maximise its value. With further support from Bristol City Council, Rose was able to commission the images of the two scenarios found on this website from local artist Andy Council, and with additional support from the Green Capital Partnership’s Community Challenge Fund was able to create this website.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
To find out more about what Bristol city is doing to tackle climate change, head to the City Council’s climate change pages and the Green Capital Partnership’s site.
CONTACT US
If you have any questions about the project please email info@futurebristol.co.uk.
