Apr 3 2019
A survey has been conducted by scientists from the University of Bristol’s Cabot Institute, in collaboration with Bristol City Council and the Bristol City Office, to offer better insights into how private, public, and nonprofit organizations all over the city can contribute to establishing a more sustainable future for the world.
(Credit: University of Bristol)
This was the first study of its type in the United Kingdom, guided by Dr Sean Fox, Senior Lecturer in Global Development from the University of Bristol’s Cabot Institute and School of Geographical Sciences.
“Bristol has a ‘green’ reputation and was awarded the status of European Green Capital in 2015—yet economic inequalities, air pollution, homelessness, hunger and reliance on unsustainable sources of energy persist. We must address the complexity and interconnectedness of such social, economic and environmental challenges if Bristol is to achieve a better future.”
Dr Sean Fox, Senior Lecturer in Global Development, Cabot Institute and School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol
A framework has been provided by the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to reason and function universally to attain sustainability. SDGs are often connected to the “closest thing the world has to a strategy” to create a more environmentally sustainable, inclusive, and flourishing world.
The 17 goals deal with all about progressing toward clean energy and minimizing economic inequality as well as opposing gender bias. Goal 11 emphasizes particularly on Sustainable Cities and Communities, understanding that cities are the key areas for accomplishing all these universal goals, taking into account the increasing population growth and commercial activity in the cities across the globe.
Currently, the Cabot Institute has linked regional activities to the SDGs for generating a progress report for Bristol, which will be published in July 2019 and presented as proof to the United Nations. The report will feature areas of development and will be of use to find areas of improvement to support Bristol in achieving the vision aimed in the One City Plan: to be a Fair, Healthy, and Sustainable City for all.
This is an exciting initiative that signals Bristol’s continued leadership in addressing the challenges of sustainability as we are the first city in the UK to undertake a review of this kind. Through this consultation we hope to learn more about how diverse local sustainability initiatives are helping to address the global challenges outlined in the SDGs.
Dr Sean Fox, Senior Lecturer in Global Development, Cabot Institute and School of Geographical Sciences, University of Bristol
Even Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol, is a strong supporter of the SDGs and has recently mentioned that SDGs are a “common language” that covers all the global city networks. He stated, “We are a city that wants to change the world—we need to be delivering against the SDGs as part of our global responsibility in an interdependent world.”
The researchers have encouraged organizations from all parts of the city to describe their actions and contributions through this online survey. This survey will end on Friday, April 26th, 2019.