Business figures this evening spoke of their delight that Bristol has scooped the prestigious European Green Capital 2015 title.
Bonnie Dean, chief executive at the Bristol & Bath Science Park, said the catapults Bristol’s many green achievements onto an international stage.
“It will make the Bristol and Bath region all the more attractive to overseas investors, particularly in our growing renewable sector,” she said.
“We are leading the green agenda in the UK – only this week George Ferguson announced that he wants Bristol to become the first solar panel city in the UK with a target of generating 1GW of solar electricity by 2020. And with companies like DuPont in the region, which helps produce one of the most efficient solar panels in the industry, we now have a perfect opportunity to showcase and share this activity across Europe.”
Jeremy Richards, head of the Bristol office at international property agents JLL, said: “European Green Capital 2015 will give us the winning edge. In the past we’ve had to compete against much larger cities, such as Manchester, for investment and new contracts but now we can develop a strong and credible brand for ourselves that will set us apart from this competition.”
Destination Bristol chief executive John Hirst said it was a positive boost for the city’s already active environmental scene.
“Bristol has developed a reputation for being a city that doesn’t just think green, but acts green as well,” he said.
“We are already leading the way in the UK, so becoming European Green Capital is the natural next step, and helps to cement our place as a vibrant and forward-thinking city bringing us even more international acclaim.
“Our city is already a thriving centre of environmentally-friendly activity and the events during Bristol’s BIG Green Week show just how varied the green scene already is here in Bristol. We can expect it to grow and improve further in the build up to, and throughout, 2015 as part of our new European Green Capital status. This great green achievement will undoubtedly help us to attract more visitors to enjoy our beautiful city.”
