Friends of the Earth Bristol

Bristol Friends of the Earth is an active local group of the international environmental organisation Friends of the Earth. There is also a nature subgroup and an associated Air Quality campaign.

We also organise public meetings on important issues, election hustings, and responses to various local proposals (planning and development, air quality, pesticides, etc).

We welcome new members to get involved, and we sometimes hold open organising meetings where you can come along to meet us and find out more.

If you can help us with campaigning time or resources, or want to come to a meeting to see what we do then please get in touch. Also see our facebook group.

A Green and Fair Recovery is Within Reach

February 23rd, 2021

We need to act much faster now than when the Climate Change Act was passed in 2008, since global emissions have continued going up. That’s why the government’s ‘net zero by 2050’ target is just no longer adequate. It’s getting increasingly clear that the target of limiting warming to 1.5C is very important, as feedback mechanisms are already starting to kick in. At the same time it’s getting increasingly challenging, requiring 15%/year cuts to 2040 as illustrated by the chart, with emissions needing to more than halve by 2030. It all hinges on how we and the rest of the world pull out of the pandemic – we have the best chance ever to make a choice, lets make the right one and have a Green New Deal!

https://www.carbonbrief.org/unep-1-5c-climate-target-slipping-out-of-reach

The government needs to act but people need to be on board, that’s what the new CEEbill is about: https://www.ceebill.uk/ . It proposes new targets and citizens assemblies as an essential element of achieving rapid consensual change.

A local action plan is important, and Bristol City Council is working on one.

A household plan, including these things, is also important:

https://phys.org/news/2017-07-effective-individual-tackle-climate-discussed.html

Get in touch if you want to join our Climate Action Group to get involved in some group action!

Metro Mayor Hustings

Monday 19^th April 2021

Online Event, Monday 19 April 2021 – 6 to 7.30pm
The West of England Metro Mayor has a great deal of influence over how Bristol, Bath and surrounding areas will respond over the next decade to the now extremely urgent global climate and nature crises. A green and fair recovery is in sight but needs the political vision and will to implement with the urgency required.
The mayor will control a substantial budget for public transport and vocational training, and the authority has bid for a Great Western Freeport – citing growth, aerospace and nuclear, but no concrete green proposals.
https://www.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/great-western-freeport-could-create-almost-50000-jobs-in-the-region/
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/feb/04/free-ports-or-sleaze-ports-rishi-sunaks-dream-of-tax-free-zones-about-to-become-reality
With bus services in danger of collapse after covid, the green homes grant having flopped due to insufficient qualified retrofit contractors, and a need for rapidly ramping our renewable energy infrastructure, the leading mayoral candidates will be asked to share their plans in these and other areas.
Candidates confirmed to take part in the hustings are:

Dan Norris – Labour Party
Jerome Thomas – Green Party
Samuel Williams – Conservative Party
Stephen Williams – Liberal Democrats

This event is organised by Bristol Green Capital Partnership in collaboration with Avon Wildlife Trust, Black & Green Ambassadors, Campaign for Rural England, Friends of the Earth, Sustrans and XR.
For latest details and booking see https://bristolgreencapital.org/events/west-of-england-mayoral-hustings-2021/

Bristol Mayoral Hustings 2021

Tuesday 27^th April 2021

Online event, Tuesday 27 April 2021 – 6 to 7.30pm.
The Mayor of Bristol has a great deal of influence over how the city will respond over the next decade to the now extremely urgent global climate and nature crises.
A green and fair recovery is in sight but needs the political vision and will to implement with the urgency required.
The leading mayoral candidates will be asked to share their plans in this area.
Bookings will open at the start of March and we will invite you to submit questions for candidates about what matters most to you and your community.
Candidates confirmed to take part in the hustings are:

Alastair Watson, Conservative Party
Caroline Gooch – Liberal Democrats
Marvin Rees – Labour Party
Sandy Hore-Ruthven – Green Party

This event is organised by Bristol Green Capital Partnership in collaboration with Avon Wildlife Trust, Black & Green Ambassadors, Campaign for Rural England, Eastside Community Trust, Friends of the Earth, Sustrans and XR.
For latest details and booking see https://bristolgreencapital.org/events/bristol-mayoral-hustings-2021-climate-ecological-emergency/