A new partnership has launched between Bristol Green Capital Partnership’s Climate Action Programme and Redcliffe & Temple BID that aims to root the area as a hub for zero carbon business practice and share learnings with other parts of the city.

The Partnership’s Climate Action Programme was launched in April 2021, supported by NatWest Group and Bristol City Council, to help organisations across Bristol and the wider region to reduce their carbon emissions, as part of Bristol’s efforts to tackle the climate crisis. In the first year, representatives from over 200 organisations attended events on various climate-related topics, while many more watched recordings and downloaded guides, toolkits and advice articles.

Redcliffe & Temple Business Improvement District (BID) is a business-led initiative that uses a levy to fund projects from organisations to address business and community priorities over a fixed period. Its first term runs until 2025 and aims to put the area on the map, helping it to grow, improve the environment, health and wellbeing, attract and retain talent, support COVID-19 recovery, and give businesses a voice and access to funds to make things happen.

Redcliffe & Temple BID is already home to several members of the Partnership’s Climate Leaders Group – organisations with a stated aim and plan in place to achieve net zero by 2030 – including Burges Salmon, Avon Fire & Rescue, PwC and Jacobs. Building on the success of the first 18 months, this partnership will make Redcliffe and Temple a Climate Action Programme hub, offering events, workshops, and peer-to-peer learning activities that enable businesses from across Bristol to accelerate climate action in their own operations and tackle shared problems together.

Lizzi Testani, Chief Executive Officer of Bristol Green Capital Partnership, said, “There is already some great climate action by businesses in Redcliffe and Temple. We’re really excited about the potential to increase this further and ensure learnings and best practice are shared throughout the city”.

Kirsty Green-Mann, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Burges Salmon, said of their experience as a Climate Leader, “It’s been really useful connecting with other businesses and organisations. Learning together can speed us all up in transitioning to net zero as we know this challenge is urgent. We’ve been focused on science-based targets and importantly engaging our supply chain, now knowing the significance of the emissions associated with the purchase of goods and services. Our Net Zero legal team has also been working on a range of exciting and transformational projects with clients. As we’re in this together we’re always open to sharing experience and insight.”

Tom Swithinbank, Project Manager at Redcliffe & Temple BID said “We are really pleased to collaborate with Bristol Green Capital Partnership and continue our work to help share best practice and support businesses to reach net zero. Our recently published Sustainability Commitment, aligning our work to the UN SDGs, outlines the steps we will take as a BID in coming months and years.”

Redcliffe & Temple BID is also taking action on the ecological emergency, with the implementation of its Green Infrastructure Action Plan outlining its approach to improving the city’s outdoor environment by creating quality green spaces and improving sustainability.