I’m working on the sustainable development impact of the bid and strengthening the environmental aspects. I have been meeting with/talking to a number of people already involved with the digital challenge and people tackling the challenge of safeguarding the planet through sustainable development. I hope to meet with and hear from many more over the next few weeks.
We are currently looking at a digital sustainable development toolkit from SustainIT which could be useful to people developing local projects; it provides both a checklist and an assessment tool. We may then use it to back up our impact assessment of the bid.
The project has generated lots of ideas in this area; some local to the five focus areas and some which would potentially span the city and beyond.These are in addition to the ideas of people in the technology and environment workshop of the ‘Harnessing Digital Disruption’ event on the 1st November.
Web-based local information on what to do with waste and how to do it (e.g nappies, a real problem in the waste stream). This could be backed up with a visit from local organisation working on these issues. elearning could include issues of water/energy/waste etc and provide a resource to capture what’s going on at local level. Interactive chat room to discuss new ideas.
Extend the campaign ‘Every Action Counts’ www.everyactioncounts.org.uk led by DEFRA and hundreds of voluntary sector organisations nationally.This involves local community groups making a difference to their community and their environment through five key areas;save energy, travel wisely, shop ethically, save our resources, care for your area. You can track progress digitally.Environmental organisations could issue certificates to local businesses taking part.
Use your mobile phone for real time bus information. Is your bus on time? Late? Cancelled? When is the next one? What a breakthrough this would be. It may not be available yet but surely only a matter of time. Potential for pilot linking up to telematics on show case route for example.
Extend the ecoschool scheme to 30 schools (in focus areas?).This is an environmental impact project. The council is aiming to get 15 schools to eco-standard by July. Young people are involved in monitoring, action planning and decision making. There is potential for real time telematics to show for example how much energy the school is using and take steps to reduce it. This would feed into the curriculum making subjects more relevant and increasing Bristol’s attainment. It could also be linked to the healthy schools initiative.(how many chips were eaten today? How much exercise did we get?) Schools could buy energy from renewables supplier who may then install real time information systems. Digital support could be provided.Real time information will be installed in the four new Bristol schools.
Devise a version of SimCity with real information as a mechanism for consulting on local developments. Real ‘planning for real ‘.
Bristol Biodiversity; Birdwatch, badgerwatch, frogwatch, volewatch…springwatch.Perhaps set up a Bristol portal which we all add to so we get the Bristol picture. We could use our 6 nature reserves as well as gardens/greenspace’balconies/streets
Develop this theme further with an interactive version of Bristol City Council’s ‘State of the Local Environment’ report. This would be particularly appropriate for the ‘Liveability’ aspect of the report.
More later in the week.
