Just Transition

Bristol Climate &

Statement of Intent

Nature Partnership

First published January 2023

Introductory note

Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership is committed to a just transition, as highlighted in our updated vision for a “zero carbon, socially just Bristol where all our communities and nature thrive".

Our vision emphasises the important interconnections between climate and nature action and social justice, and the need to tackle them together. This public statement of intent outlines our commitment to a just transition and the ways in which we aim to support it through our work.

The Partnership believes the transition to decarbonise in Bristol and beyond needs to happen equitably, in a way that improves rather than worsens inequalities, that doesn't expect those least responsible for carbon emissions to make the biggest sacrifices, and which creates new opportunities which improve the quality of life for people locally and globally.

Some important drivers for our position on a just transition are:

· Bristol is not an equal city. Average life expectancy of residents living in economically poorer parts of the city are 10 years lower than in other more affluent parts

·The environment, climate and sustainability sector is one of the least diverse in the country. It is not representative of our Bristol (UK) communities

·(At the time of writing) the UK is experiencing a cost of living and energy crisis which is compounding existing inequality and negatively impacting people's lives, livelihoods and wellbeing

·Our work with city partners has highlighted the exclusion of certain communities from the climate conversation (e.g. Disabled, Black people and people of colour (BPOC), and refugee communities)

·The youngest and oldest in our society are likely to be more vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change

·Huge opportunities are set to come from the transition, foor example significant numbers of new green economy jobs, which have the potential to improve the quality of life for loocal people.

To achieve a just transition the Partnership believes it is important to interconnect climate and nature action with social justice ambitions, both on the ground and at a strategic level. The two are not mutually exclusive, for example:

·Insulating housing stock reduces energy poverty and provides a healthier living environment-thnis can be especially important for members the Disabled community

· Easy access to quality green and growing spaces and nature improves mental and physical health and reduces social isolation and food poverty, particularly for older people and the refugee community

·Encouraging safe, active travel reduces air pollution, improves health and reduces transport costs for families living on lower incomes

·Creating quality, new green jobs for young people severely impacted by the pandemic, provides career and social mobility opportunities for the next generation.

The Partnership staff and Directors acknowledge that we are not experts in just transition, but we are committed to developing our knowledge and understanding and prioritising a just transition in the development of our future programmes, events, partnerships, fundraising and strategic collaborations.

Just transition will be an area of active learning for us - we know we won't always get it right and will be actively open to feedback. We are also committed to sharing our learning honestly and openly with our members, networks and partners bothlocally and nationally.

Statement of intent

Bristol Climate & Nature Partnership is committed to championing a just transition and this public statement of intent marks our commitment to proactively centre a just transition in our strategic organisational thinking and future planning.

Whilst we need to accelerate our response to the climate and nature crises, we believe it is also critical to ensure that economic and social injustices are tackled at the same time.

The Partnership wants to see bold, transformative climate and nature action, with those with more resource, and more responsibility for emissions, taking a greater responsibility. We also want ddiverse local communities to be empowered and enabled to shape the transition to net zero, especially those who will be most affected by climate and nature breakdown.

As anorganisation we commit to proactively using our platform, communication channels,network, programme, leverage and partnerships to progress social justice and challenge inequity wherever possible.

We are committed to ensuring our response to the climate and nature emergencies has fairness and equity at its heart and that we collaborate with others (our members, partners, funders, strategic decision and policy makers) to both catalyse and take tangible action on climate and social inequality.

We will do this both strategically and practically by:

·Catalysing conversations and positive change with partnership members, city stakeholders, communities

·Championing the importance of just transition, advocating for its consideration in the majority of climate and nature action conversations and decision-making

·Collaborating with our membership annd key city partners to centre just transition within Bristol's approach to climate and nature action

·Coordinating and convening programmes, panels, events and resources that directly deliver on just transition objectives and supports and inspires others

· EEncouraging and enabling those with greater responsibility to progress climate and nature action in a fast and fair way

· Promoting fast and fair local carbon emission reduction activities, to help limit global warming and reduce the climate impacts faced by global communities.

We are committed to weaving a just transition through our key projects (e.g. the Community Climate Action Project and the Climate Action Programme), our events, communications, partnerships, and governance, and through our interactions with city governance, businesses and strategy planning.

Just transition is a growing and evolving area of work for the Partnership,which we will regularly review as we deepen our thinking, expand our learning and listen to and collaborate with others on this important and complex issue. In early 2023 we will codevelop our own working definition of a just transition and create an organisational development plan to guide our progress.

Published January 2023