European Commission Conference

[maddie]

NEWS RELEASE

Knowle West community project from Bristol to represent UK at prestigious E.U. environmental conference

Tuesday 24th February 2009

European Commission conference on ‘Social Fairness in Sustainable Development – A Green and Social Europe’, Brussels

A pioneering environmental project led by residents of Knowle West, an area of Bristol, UK fighting the label of ‘urban deprivation’, has been hailed as a great success by the European Commission.

The Carbon Makeover Project, based at the Knowle West Media Centre (KWMC), utilises the wide variety of media facilities available at the centre to support local residents in reducing their environmental impact. It has produced positive social changes in the area and been praised as a ‘win-win’ initiative by the European Commission.

Project Coordinator Misty Tunks and Digital Innovator Robert Woolf have been invited to speak at a conference in Brussels on February 24th, where the European Commission will explore the challenges of simultaneously achieving social and environmental goals. The project has been selected as an exemplary initiative from the UK and is one of six projects from around the world to be represented.

Knowle West had one of the highest carbon footprints in Bristol when the project began in 2007 - statistics based on: travel to work mode, waste produced per household, electricity used and locally-produced food purchased. 70 homes in the area pledged to reduce their carbon emissions by making manageable alterations to their lifestyles and the project has since expanded to include four inclusive community projects, led by local people.

Carbon Makeover is funded by the Wates Foundation, accessed through CIVA. This inspiring environmental work undertaken by the residents of Knowle West has proven that instigating change at a local level can influence international policy.

Call Misty on 0117 9030444 or email misty@kwmc.org.uk for more info.