Environment City named one of the greenest in world
BRISTOL has been named as one of the greenest cities in the world, in a major list of 88 places that “continue to lead on environmental action”.
It joins the likes of Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Miami and Auckland on a new ‘A-list’ ranking of major cities around the world and how they are responding to the climate crisis.
The global non-profit organisation CDP has named Bristol in the first assessment of how cities are tackling the challenges of the 2015 Paris Climate Accord.
There are eight cities from Britain on the list, who are named as a ‘A-listers’ for their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and for trying to ‘build resilience’ for the future.
Bristol was the first city in the country to declare a climate emergency, following an initiative by Green Party councillor Carla Denyer, and was the birthplace of Extinction Rebellion, which evolved from protests against the local authorities attempts to build a new Metrobus road over allotments in Stapleton.
The inclusion of Bristol on such a prestigious list will baffle many environmentalists in the city, given Bristol’s pre-Covid levels of traffic congestion and air pollution were some of the worst in the country.
But CDP said Bristol was included because it was one of the 88 global cities that continue to lead on environmental action and transparency during 2020, despite the pressures of tackling Covid-19.
“This year’s A-list shows major progress since the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2015, demonstrating that impactful and urgent environmental action is possible,” said a CDP spokesperson.
“The 88 cities on the 2020 CDP Cities A List have received the highest rating for both their efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build resilience to the impacts of climate change. Together, they are setting an example of environmental action that we urgently need other cities and national governments to follow if emissions are to rapidly decline, to safeguard the planet, economy and citizens, and put us on the right track ahead of COP26.”
CDP are a global non-profit environmental organisation focussed on national and local governments and major businesses and corporations – it’s funded from a range of sources, including multinational companies and banks.
“These cities and others on the 2020 A List are working to become resilient, healthy and prosperous places to live and work while cutting emissions and rapidly building resilience against the climate crisis. National governments too, from the United Kingdom to South Korea have been ramping up their environmental ambition,” a spokesperson added.
Kyra Appleby, global director of cities, states and regions at CDP said: “We commend the 88 cities on the CDP Cities A List. They are building resilient, healthy, and prosperous places to live and work while.
“However, the science is clear – we categorically must halve global emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050 to limit the impacts of the climate crisis.”