Zero Carbon Bristol – June 29th @ The Watershed

Dear All,

This is to invite you to Zero Carbon Bristol on June 29th at The Watershed on the Bristol waterfront. This is a one-day conference, from 9:30 to 4:30, to explore the idea that Bristol can work with its bioregion — its ‘Green Halo’ — to become a Zero Carbon Green Capital. The event has been organised jointly with the Royal Agricultural College and their South West Rural Update network, and with Bristol City Council’s Green Capital Initiative, supported by BETS (Bristol Environmental Technologies and Services — soon to be renamed Low Carbon South West) and ASP — the Association of Sustainability Practitioners

We have a great programme — speakers include Herbie Girardet from the World Future Council, Peter Harper from CAT, the Centre for Alternative Technology, and Kosha Joubert from GEN, the Global Ecovillage Network. And quite a few more — see below — plus there’s a World Cafe in the afternoon, with plenty of opportunity for dialogue and networking. And we’ll wrap up with a session on Outcomes, with quite a few already in the works…

You can download the Zero Carbon Bristol programme and booking form – and completed booking forms can be emailed to Bev Allen at the Royal Agricultural College.

What is Zero Carbon?
Zero Carbon is the idea that a community can be carbon neutral. There are many proposed solutions to global warming — carbon offsetting, CCS, contraction & convergence, as well as personal carbon trading. Zero Carbon is simple and radical — every community takes care of itself. It doesn’t require anyone else to agree — it’s the simplest to do and hardest to fudge, or to turn into a global scam Cap and Trade. All we have to do is figure out how to do it, then do it, then help others do it — and that’s the challenge!

What does Zero Carbon involve?
Carbon is the basis of life, so zero emissions means either a dead planet (worst case scenario!) or zero net emissions – balancing reduced missions, making energy without emissions, and sequestering carbon to balance the remaining emissions. Is this possible? CAT will publish their report Zero Carbon Britain a week before this event, and the World Future Council have published a report 100% Renewable Energy – and Beyond – for Cities. And the Farm of the Future can even sequester carbon.

What is Zero Carbon Bristol?
It’s an event to explore the possibility of Bristol as a leading Green Capital becoming a Zero Carbon City. It builds on Bristol’s Peak Oil Report, and the ambitious goals announced by Bristol City Council to reduce carbon emissions by 40% by 2020 — and aspirations to produce the City’s energy renewably and to increase tree cover in the region. This is to take things a step further — to see if Zero Carbon is possible, desirable, and if so what do we need to do? It’s a chance to learn, to discuss, perchance to plan.

Speakers and Programme
Download the programme or see it on the Zero Carbon Bristol website. Alastair Sawday and David Bishop will chair and introduce. Herbie Girardet and Peter Harper will explain the essentials of renewable energy and zero carbon. Richard Baines from the Royal Agricultural College and Ade Morley will talk about low carbon farming and agroforestry. Kosha Joubert from GEN will talk about the skills for living in low carbon communities — with Joy Carey talking about Bristol’s local food plan. I’ll say why Zero Carbon is important for Bristol, Steve Marriott will talk about BCC’s emission planning, and Dan Weisselberg will explain things YOU can do.

Vala Ragnarsdottir, who helped created Bristol’s Sustainability Vision will talk about creating a shared vision, and lead a World Cafe in the afternoon with Kosha. Most of the speakers will host a table, so you can spend more time with them. We’ll round off with a panel looking at outcomes that might help carry this initiative — and yours — forward. This will include Ashridge Management College on Leadership, Kirsten Rath from UKTI and John Bradford from Science City Bristol on opportunities for the Green Economy.

Who should come to Zero Carbon Bristol?
Even if you’re not an activist this can be for you! This is for anyone who thinks half measures won’t be enough, who thinks we should be raising the bar at the right height as we figure out how to jump it. It’s for anyone who favours clear thinking, intelligent planning and direct action, and who wants to lead by example. It’s for anyone who wants to see a consensus strong enough to create a tipping point. Whether you’re in business or an NGO, academia, government or you’re an independent, please come along…

Location and Cost
The event is at The Watershed, (map) on Bristol’s waterfront from 9:30 to 4:30 on June 29th, and the price is £100, which covers refreshments and lunch. Paying the full list price of £100 helps subsidise the event — thank you!…

Discount for SWRU, BETS, GCI, ASP, Coexist members
For our sponsor networks – the RAC’s South West Rural Update, BETS (Bristol Environmental Technologies and Services), Bristol’s Green Capital Initiative, and ASP (Association of Sustainability Practitioners), and the Coexist community, our break-even cost is £65. On the booking form, beside subsidy code, write which group you’re a member of.

Special Offer for You
If you’re not a member of one of these networks you can still write ‘Friend of ______’ for subsidy code and put my name, and then you can book for £65 as well. Sooner is better.

Please Tell Your Friends and Networks
We hope you can come. And if you know others who would be interested in this event, please forward this or invite them in whatever way seems appropriate to you. Tell them to put your name on the booking form as the subsidy code and they can get the special price too – and we’ll know who to thank!

Travel and Accommodation
The Watershed is about a mile from Bristol Templemeads Station. Use a taxi or walk via Queens Square. By car, there are two car parks on nearby Millennium Square. If you need to stay overnight, Bristol Youth Hostel is just across the footbridge, and the IBIS Bristol Centre hotel is just a couple of hundred yards away, and cheap and cheerful.

If you have any questions please get in touch with me or Bev Allen. I hope to see you at Zero Carbon Bristol…

With best wishes,

David
David Saunders • david@dns.org.uk • egregoria.org
Egregoria Community Interest Company • building sustainable communities and Breakthrough Energy Technologies • community renewable energy 80 Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3QY • +44 117 942 0100 +44 7790 779470