Agenda item

1.      To decide whether to continue with the preparation, with partners, of the Bristol One City Climate Action and Investment Plans to support the achievement of the Council’s and city’s climate objectives. 

2.      To decide on options for the Committee’s involvement in the process.

The Committee RESOLVED:

To approve option 4: Continue work on the Bristol One City Climate Action and Investment Plan and undertake informal briefing and engagement with some or all of the committee members on the details of the plans before bringing back to Committee on 26 September 2024.

The Committee considered a report (agenda item 8) which sought a decision on whether to continue with the preparation, with partners, of the Bristol One City Climate Action and Investment Plans to support the achievement of the Council’s and city’s climate objectives. A decision was also sought on options for the Committee’s involvement in the process.

Summary of main points raised/noted in discussion of this item:

1. It was noted that of the options presented in the report, the officer recommendation was that the Committee should approve Option 4, i.e. continue work on the Bristol One City Climate Action and Investment Plan and undertake informal briefing and engagement with some or all of the committee members on the details of the plans before bringing back to Committee on 26 September 2024.

2. The Chair commented that progressing with Option 4 would enable further development of the body of previous work, as set out in the report, and highlighted the range of partners involved in the Transition Team that had been working to develop the Bristol Climate Action Plan and which would continue, if the Committee approved the continuation of the project, to create a Bristol Climate Investment Plan.

3. In response to a question, it was noted that it was too early to speculate on how the project could potentially link in with the aims of, and investment opportunities that might be available through the government’s newly launched Great British Energy power company.  The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero had, however, been invited to Bristol to view the partnership work that was being taken forward around this agenda.

4. It was noted that the Bristol One City Climate Action and Investment Plan would be a strategic-level document.

5. There was a discussion about the progress being made in relation to reaching the Council’s target of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2030.  It was noted that City Leap would play a key role in this through expanding the city’s heat network.  Achieving the target would also depend on a range of other factors/enabling conditions, including sufficient money being available, national policy, and the public engagement and wider democratic support required for measures that would help deliver this goal.  It was also noted that the rate of progress needed to accelerate, not just in Bristol but also nationally if targets were to be met.  It was suggested that it would be important to continue to track the progress of each intervention, with annual updates on overall progress.

6. It was suggested that it would also be useful for the Committee to receive an update on progress in relation to the Council’s own target of being carbon neutral for its own direct emissions by 2025.

The Chair then moved the recommendation as set out in the report.

Cllr King seconded this motion.

The Committee RESOLVED:

To approve option 4: Continue work on the Bristol One City Climate Action and Investment Plan and undertake informal briefing and engagement with some or all of the committee members on the details of the plans before bringing back to Committee on 26 September 2024.