Digital Environment Activities

ICT is currently responsible for the same volume of carbon emissions as the airline industry.  The DC10 work programme, led by Connecting Bristol, aims to address this by;

Co-ordinating Impact

We have worked hard to create and strengthen links between the Digital Environment work and other DC10 work streams and have seen particular benefits from working directly with the Flexible Working stream.

We have also recognised the potential to work across the Digital Switchover theme and have held strategic meets with Digital UK highlighting the potential environmental impact of switchover. Connecting Bristol, as workstream lead have had discussions about jointly producing guidance with Digital UK about strategies to reduce environmental impact.

Neighbourhood Carbon Makeover

Connecting Bristol are supporting Knowle West Media Centre in running their Neighbourhood Carbon Makeover programme. A coordinator is in post and activities are underway with 100 homes in Knowle West and 10 community campaigners who have pledged to work towards reducing their environmental impact to protect the future of the planet.

Environmentally Aware DC10- Do as we do

We are currently building relationships with respected and credible environmental organisations with the goal of working in partnership with these organisations to produce advice and guidance to other DC10 members in order to minimise the environmental impact of our activities as a network.

Partnership and Innovation

Bristol City Council, supported by Connecting Bristol, are linking with Birmingham and Manchester (and Leeds) to develop city-wide carbon reduction strategies through the Low Carbon Cities Programme. The vision is to produce a city-wide carbon reduction target lead by the public sector, supported by the private sector and owned by the entire community.

We have worked with the University of Bristol’s Sustainability Network, the council’s Local Food Coordinator, Allotments and Markets Managers and a variety of local food organisations to submit a bid for a Bristol Virtual Farmers Market (VFM) to the NESTA Big Green Challenge competition.  The VFM will utilise innovative ‘locative technology’ developed by Overlay Media (a Bristol University start-up) to guide registered mobile phone users to local food suppliers that are near to their current location.  It has already fought-off competition from 300 other bidders to successfully make it through to the second round.  Ultimately, a prize fund of £1million is available to the overall winner(s).

Connecting Bristol, on behalf of the DC10, have engaged in a wide range of workshops, meetings, speaking engagements and other activities over the past few months.

European Funding

Connecting Bristol procured support on behalf of the DC10 in producing a range of European bids to support Green Shift/ DeHEMS. The Commission have agreed to provide funding under Framework Programme 7.

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