The Green Economy in Bristol and the West of ... - Miguel Mendonça
The Green Economy in Bristol and the West of ... - Miguel Mendonça
The Green Economy in Bristol and the West of ... - Miguel Mendonça
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34<br />
Annex A<br />
material flows. <strong>The</strong> power <strong>of</strong> designers is catalytic, 105<br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>Bristol</strong> is <strong>in</strong> a good position to act as hub <strong>of</strong><br />
creativity to reshape both entire production<br />
processes <strong>and</strong> consumption habits <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> region.<br />
<strong>The</strong> Food System<br />
<strong>The</strong> food system is a critical part <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> economy at<br />
all levels, <strong>and</strong> is responsible for 10% <strong>of</strong> employment<br />
<strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>Bristol</strong> city region, <strong>and</strong> 30% <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> UK carbon<br />
footpr<strong>in</strong>t. <strong>The</strong>se figures are drawn from <strong>the</strong> 2011<br />
report, Who Feeds <strong>Bristol</strong>?: Towards a resilient food<br />
plan. It references <strong>the</strong> 2009 How Low Can We Go?<br />
report from WWFUK <strong>and</strong> FCRN (Food Climate<br />
Research Network), which states that <strong>in</strong> order to<br />
reach <strong>the</strong> UK’s target <strong>of</strong> 80% CO 2 reduction by 2050,<br />
a cut <strong>of</strong> 70% <strong>in</strong> foodrelated emissions will be<br />
required.<br />
Who Feeds <strong>Bristol</strong>? concludes by sett<strong>in</strong>g out a clear<br />
case for a food systems plann<strong>in</strong>g process for <strong>Bristol</strong><br />
<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> city region, “Food systems plann<strong>in</strong>g provides<br />
cities with <strong>the</strong> opportunity to build a green economy<br />
with food at its heart <strong>in</strong> a way that builds a mutually<br />
supportive relationship between <strong>the</strong> city <strong>and</strong> its<br />
h<strong>in</strong>terl<strong>and</strong>. It enables <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong> a<br />
‘productive green <strong>in</strong>frastructure’ embedded with<strong>in</strong><br />
<strong>the</strong> city, where green spaces have multiple benefits<br />
<strong>and</strong> can function as ‘green corridors’ l<strong>in</strong>k<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> city<br />
with its rural surround<strong>in</strong>gs, for example: cycle <strong>and</strong><br />
walk<strong>in</strong>g routes; food production; leisure space;<br />
carbon sequestration; nature conservation; improved<br />
recycl<strong>in</strong>g <strong>of</strong> nutrients <strong>and</strong> energy. This approach can<br />
facilitate <strong>the</strong> design <strong>of</strong> smart ‘closed loop’ systems<br />
that make efficient use <strong>of</strong> both organic waste <strong>and</strong><br />
renewable energy resources for agriculture that are<br />
generated by <strong>the</strong> city, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> application <strong>of</strong> green<br />
build<strong>in</strong>g technology <strong>and</strong> adaptive reuse <strong>of</strong> sites <strong>and</strong><br />
build<strong>in</strong>gs.” 106<br />
Social Enterprises, Cooperatives, Community<br />
Groups <strong>and</strong> Charities<br />
<strong>The</strong> National Council for Voluntary Organisations<br />
estimates that <strong>the</strong>re were 5,316 environmental<br />
groups work<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> social enterprise sector <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />
UK <strong>in</strong> 2007/08, with an <strong>in</strong>come <strong>of</strong> £2.38 billion <strong>and</strong><br />
assets <strong>of</strong> £4.25 billion. 107 <strong>Bristol</strong> is home to many<br />
social enterprises <strong>and</strong> organisations, which five years<br />
ago was estimated at over 1,000, with 9,000<br />
employees <strong>and</strong> an annual turnover <strong>of</strong> over £230<br />
million. 108<br />
Although <strong>the</strong>re was little time or scope with<strong>in</strong> this<br />
report for an exploration <strong>of</strong> this sector <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> region,<br />
<strong>the</strong>re are known to be many third sector<br />
organisations operat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> areas <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g energy,<br />
transport, local <strong>and</strong> organic food, wood products,<br />
property <strong>and</strong> now on local currency. <strong>The</strong>se<br />
organisations provide employment, goods <strong>and</strong><br />
services, <strong>and</strong> opportunities for <strong>the</strong> development <strong>of</strong><br />
skills, entrepreneurship, social capital, regeneration<br />
<strong>and</strong> local resilience. Numerous benefits are created<br />
through <strong>the</strong>se activities, meet<strong>in</strong>g local needs <strong>and</strong><br />
empower<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>dividuals <strong>and</strong> communities.<br />
<strong>The</strong> <strong>Green</strong> <strong>Economy</strong> <strong>in</strong> <strong>Bristol</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> <strong>West</strong> <strong>of</strong> Engl<strong>and</strong>