Bristol’s preparations for its role next year as Europe’s green capital come under the spotlight over the next three days as the city hosts a gathering of more than 150 leading international urban designers, architects and planners.
They will learn how the city is already delivering on its green agenda, tour key parts of Bristol to see the changes taking place and hear from a wide range of speakers including Mayor George Ferguson, a founder of conference organisers The Academy of Urbanism, a not-for-profit organisation which celebrates and learns from good places. 
Also speaking will be Peter Lord, joint founder of Bristol-based Aardman Animations, Green Capital director Kris Donaldson and the city council’s new strategic director for place Barra Mac Ruairí.
They will be joined by leading international urbanists including the former mayor of Brazilian city Curitiba, Jaime Lerner, who over three terms implemented a series of transformational social and urban reforms. Curitiba is now viewed as a blueprint for cities across the globe seriously embracing the sustainability agenda.
Mayor Ferguson said: “The annual Academy of Urbanism Congress is a great opportunity for cities to share thinking about how good urbanism can be deployed to create healthier, happier and fairer cities.
“We are very excited to be hosting the congress here in Bristol this year, sharing our knowledge and exchanging ideas as we prepare to be European Green Capital in 2015.”
Click here for the full programme of the Bristol conference
