Bristol is Best City in England on Climate Action as Council Announces Significant Progress

Published On: July 21st, 2025

Bristol City Council has been named the best city in England on climate action, according to Climate Emergency UK, which recently assessed all UK councils on the actions they’ve taken towards net zero.

Climate Emergency UK was established in response to the wave of climate emergency declarations made by councils from late 2018 onwards. Bristol was the first council in both the UK and Europe to make such a declaration, following a motion put forward by Carla Denyer, now MP for Bristol Central.

Bristol’s total score was 10% higher than in 2023, demonstrating the significant steps the city has taken to decarbonise. The scorecard highlights major progress made since 2023 in areas such as decarbonising buildings and heating, transport, and planning and land use. Bristol was also recognised as a top performer in collaboration and engagement.

Carla Denyer, MP for Bristol Central and Co-Leader of the Green Party, said:

“As a councillor in Bristol in 2018, I proposed Europe’s first Climate Emergency declaration — a Green Party motion passed with cross-party support — and since then, Bristol has made incredible progress towards net zero, leading the way among English cities.

“The action taken in Bristol towards a safer future for our children and grandchildren shows what’s possible when the political will is there – from the Bristol City Leap project investing millions in decarbonising homes, businesses, and council buildings, to massive improvements in walking and cycling infrastructure and new public transport.

“But for councils across the country to meet their full potential to spearhead the move towards net zero, they need more power and funding from central government. The government should make climate action a fully funded legal duty for all UK councils so that they can lead the way on tackling the climate crisis, bringing down bills and improving people’s health and wellbeing.”

In addition to this national recognition, Bristol City Council has recently announced further significant steps it is taking to reach net zero, stating that the city is now “significantly ahead of similarly sized cities.”

A report to the Environment and Sustainability Committee highlights a reduction in carbon emissions by 56% overall and 62% per person between 2005 and 2023, compared to national reductions of 46% and 52%.

The average per-person reduction in the Core Cities (major UK cities outside London) was 57%, which is 5% lower than Bristol’s performance.

The council’s direct emissions are forecast to reduce by 88% between 2016 and 2025.

Cllr Martin Fodor, Green Party councillor and Chair of the Environment and Sustainability Committee for Bristol, said:

“The council is making huge steps to decarbonise, and we are making progress all over the city as fast as we can to deliver on our ambition.

“Whether it’s through decarbonising our energy systems via the City Leap Partnership, working through our One City Environmental Board, or supporting local organisations to create local climate action plans, Bristol is showing that our historic declaration of a climate emergency is being translated into action.”

“But we need to go further, faster. If we are to meet our targets and the national net zero target set in law, we need a Government that will provide us with more powers and funds — rather than removing the grants we’ve been using to help decarbonise council buildings and facilities.”

“Through creative and ambitious solutions, like our record-breaking Community Mutual Investment Fund, we can once again show that Bristol is leading the way in the race to net zero — along with all the wider community benefits that brings.”

Notes:

The 2025 Action Scorecard assessment includes up to 93 questions across 7 different sections, tailored by council type. It was developed in consultation with over 90 organisations and individuals. Councils were given the opportunity to respond before scores underwent a final audit. The assessment period ran from July 2024 to March 2025.
View Bristol’s Climate Scorecard:
🔗 Bristol City Council Climate Action Scorecard
The Public Sector Decarbonisation Fund has now been closed by the Government.

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