A tech philanthropist is coming to invest in Bristol after reportedly watching the mayor’s Ted talk in Canada.
Bristol mayor Marvin Rees gave a 14-minute lecture on climate change in April at the prestigious Ted conference in Vancouver. Earlier this summer, environmental campaigners criticised his decision as “ironic” to travel so far, given the topic of the short talk.
But now Mr Rees has revealed that a philanthropist is planning to travel to Bristol and invest in the city’s community groups “off the back of” his Ted talk. He added it’s “not always easy” to see direct benefits of Bristol City Council’s ambitious international strategy, but this was one.
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He said: “My Ted talk in Vancouver led to a number of live contacts, not least a tech philanthropist who will be in Bristol in the coming weeks with a commitment to working with three UK cities, meeting with our community organisations with a commitment to putting real finance into their social innovation.
“With our international work it’s not always easy to show direct benefits, because some of it’s about creating conditions in which good things are more likely to happen. Who would have known a tech philanthropist would say ‘well actually off the back of [the Ted talk] I’m going to come to Bristol and put money into your voluntary community-centred organisations’. It’s about being present and creating conditions—and hopefully good stuff will happen.”
He made the comments during a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, September 6, when the council chiefs approved a refreshed international strategy. The ambitious plans will see Bristol “influence the United Nations” and contribute to global conversations, according to the mayor, as well as attract foreign investors to pay for huge projects tackling climate change.
One key example of this is Ameresco and Vattenfall, companies from the USA and Sweden, investing hundreds of millions into Bristol’s City Leap project. This project will see several major public works to cut the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, including the new district heat networks.
Mr Rees added: “From the twinning associations in 1947, to today’s activities delivering our climate and ecological emergency programme, Bristol’s global relationships and reputation have continued to grow. It’s more important than ever that cities connect, collaborate and change the context within which they have to operate.
“It’s the way we can deliver for the citizens within our city boundaries, but it’s actually in the absence or the underwhelming leadership offered by national governments on critical issues such as climate and migration that it’s fallen on the shoulders of cities to step into that leadership vacuum.
“We cannot turn our back on those networks and forums through which we will raise our voice on these critical issues. Being in these forums have led to globally significant pieces of work. The number of requests we now have to contribute to national and international conversations on issues ranging from climate to ecology to migration is a testament to the quality of the work and leadership the [council’s international team] has shown.”
