For the first time, a collective of pioneers in climate change solutions have come together to help make Bristol's transport cleaner and greener – sooner rather than later.
Spearheaded by digital hub Action Net Zero CIC and its founder Pamela Barbato, key partners are revealed today (July 5 2021). These partners will be working together to help Bristolians make greener choices when it comes to moving around the city, region and the UK. The partners are:
Good Energy - 100% renewable energy provider who also supports clean technology, including helping to get more electric vehicles (EVs) on the road.
Co Charger - enabling businesses and residents to share chargers, helping them change to electric vehicles sooner – including 40% of drivers who live in flats or don’t have driveways.
Rightcharge – the UK’s first EV-friendly energy tariff and charge point comparison site – over 8,000 drivers have connected to a charge point installer or an energy supplier, reducing their bills by an average of more than £500 per year
ALD Automotive – which operates in 43 countries providing fleet and mobility solutions to corporate organisations, SMEs and private individuals – championing the decarbonisation through the electrification of fleets.
Edwards - a world leader in clean air management solutions, they are dedicated to the eradication of toxic and global warming gases.
Pamela Barbato said: “I’m proud to announce our headline collaborators today and to help shine a light on Bristol who are at the forefront of driving sustainable change”. “We want to support both businesses and residents on their journey to greener transport, making it easy for them to switch to cleaner choices improving air quality, making it a healthier and happier city for everyone.
Stewart Davidson, marketing communications manager of Edwards which is based West Sussex and Bristol, said: “For Edwards the environment and helping to protect it is at the heart of our business. It is a key pillar of our strategy. We feel we have a contribution to make not just within our industry but also we have a responsibility to support other businesses, sharing our expertise in clean air solutions to help drive positive change collectively.”
Tim Laver, managing director of ALD Automotive, said: “We are delighted to be partnering with Action Net Zero and supporting their campaign to educate drivers and organisations across Bristol about the benefits of driving EVs. By collaborating, we have the opportunity to work with some fantastic organisations, all focused on accelerating EV adoption across our local region. At ALD Automotive we are helping our customers move into the future, and we are excited to be able to bring our experience and knowledge to this partnership and help make a difference in our local community.” Today the initiative has launched via a social media campaign and local media outreach campaign directing people to www.actionnetzero.org where they can be informed. There they will find tools, learn about incentives and plan how and when to switch to greener transport.
Pamela said: “We are also asking businesses and residents to join the evolution and help Bristol drive change. They can sign up to become ‘Transformers’ where they will be supported to make better transport choices and share their stories to inspire others”. “It could be as simple as joining a work cycle scheme, saving money by switching to 100% renewable energy or comparing electric car chargers, or seeking advice on how and when your business should switch to an electric fleet. Collectively we can help everyone on their net zero journey.”
Other organisations have also come alongside Action Net Zero Bristol to show their support. These include TLT, a law firm with expertise in clean energy, and Elmtronics, specialists in vehicle charging solutions and Business West, a membership organisation representing around 23,000 businesses across the South West.
Nina Skubala, head of climate strategy at Business West, said: “Far from being the sole preserve of scientists and activists, climate change is now a mainstream business issue. There can be no prosperous future generated at the expense of the environment - businesses must act now. “We are an organisation with the scale and influence to support and challenge the business community to adapt to meet the challenges of climate change.”
Nigel Pocklington, CEO of Good Energy, based in Chippenham, Wiltshire, said: “One of the big challenges we need to address as we transition to clean transport is how we make it straightforward and fair for people to charge their electric cars with real renewable power. As a company on Bristol’s doorstep and with strong roots in the city, we know that if it’s possible to create a new kind of community-based clean transport scheme anywhere, it’s possible in Bristol. “In keeping with the city’s history as a leader on environment and climate action, Action Net Zero Bristol looks set to create a blueprint for other cities to follow.”
Charlie Cook, Founder and CEO of Rightcharge, which is based in London said: “Our mission at Rightcharge is to make electric car charging simple, clean and affordable. The Action Net Zero campaign is a brilliant chance to join forces with other businesses who share our passion for mitigating climate change. “Figuring out the best way to go green isn’t easy - that’s the whole reason we exist - but it needs to be to meet our climate targets. Clear, independent information is crucial to help people and businesses make the switch to electric vehicles, power their home and offices with clean energy, and embrace cleaner products and services.”
Joel Teague, who is CEO of Exeter-based company Co Charger said: “We are delighted to be part of the patchwork of solutions that pulls together expertise from so many sectors and companies genuinely intent on sustainability. “It is vital to remain focused on the prime objective to ‘stop burning fossil fuels’. That means making the transition to electric vehicles simple, beneficial and attractive to everyone – regardless of whether they can have their own charger. “The Climate Emergency and appalling health cost of fossil fuelled transport means that this is not just a target or a task it’s a race. The resources needed to decarbonise transport are there and this project will create a template for accelerating the transition to sustainability.”
Comments from others:
Maria Connolly, partner, head of clean energy and real estate at TLT LLP, said: “We are keen to help Action Net Zero break down the barriers to electric vehicle ownership. We want to help dispel the myths and provide businesses and individuals with the tools to take ownership of their own transition to low carbon transport. Sustainability is at the core of what we do at TLT and we are pleased to be in a position to share our expertise and experience with, and help make a difference to, the communities within which we live and work.”
Sara Sloman, head of future mobility partnerships at Elmtronics based in Bristol and the North East of England, said: “We are a family of employees who believe in the zero carbon mission. Success for us would be knowing that through the Action Net Zero programme we have inspired others to take the steps towards reducing their carbon footprint and knowing that we are there to help them. “Being part of the program means we strengthen our partnerships with the other regional thought leaders in zero emission mobility and success will be seeing many more businesses and the public getting an opportunity to explore their options to decarbonise and move away from internal combustion engine vehicles.”