Bristol reaches final three in bid to be named the greenest capital in Europe

View of the Clifton Suspension Bridge

Press release issued: 16 April 2012

Staff and students at the University of Bristol are celebrating after the city reached the final shortlist to be crowned European Green Capital for 2014, an achievement which would boost the local economy and foster new research opportunities.

Bristol has beaten off strong competition from 18 European cities to reach the final three, along with Copenhagen and Frankfurt. The winner will be announced on 29 June.

Its bid has been led by the Green Capital Partnership, of which the University of Bristol is a key member. For the second time, Bristol is the only city in the UK to have reached the shortlist for this coveted award.

Winning the award would have untold benefits for the city, its residents and also for the University in terms of encouraging green businesses to move to the area, the creation of new jobs and improving the general quality of life.

The Cabot Institute, a multidisciplinary research institute at the University of Bristol focusing on all aspects of global environmental change, is part of the steering group and is playing a big part in the city’s ‘green knowledge economy’.

Philippa Bailey, Manager of the Cabot Institute, explained: “Thanks to working alongside the Green Capital Partnership, we’ve been able to foster new research and industrial relationships, which have in turn enabled student placements with local green organisations.

“It’s also been an ideal opportunity to contribute to Bristol's vibrant programme of green events. The University has contributed greatly to the green knowledge economy through environmental research, undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and the wider student experience. All of this forms a key part of Bristol's bid to become the 2014 European Green Capital, and we’re hopeful that our efforts will be successful.”

The European Commission has ranked Bristol as second overall, but number one in three areas – climate change, air quality and noise pollution.

There’s one last chance to claim the top spot on 8 June, when Bristol presents its case to a jury of experts in Brussels.

David Alder, Director of Communications and Marketing, said: “This is great news and is testament to Bristol's first rate green credentials. To be the only UK city to have reached this stage is both exciting and unsurprising. This is something for everyone to be proud of.”

Bristol citizens and businesses are being asked to show their support for Bristol’s bid through the Green Capital Partnership website: www.bristolgreencapital.org

For further information, please read Bristol City Council’s press release.

Further information

The Cabot Institute at the University of Bristol brings together world-class expertise, developing truly multidisciplinary research programmes to tackle the challenges of uncertain environmental change. Its interests include natural hazards, risk, resilience and governance, food and energy security and climate change. Its research fuses rigorous statistical and numerical modelling with a deep understanding of interconnected social, environmental and engineered systems – past, present and future. It seeks to engage wider society – listening to, exploring with, and challenging stakeholders to develop a shared response to 21st Century challenges.

Find out more about the Cabot Institute’s work online at www.bristol.ac.uk/cabot