Category: DETI

During the three day Youth Engineering for Environmental Sustainability Summit (YEESS), 11-13 October 2021, young people across the West of England discussed carbon-emission cutting solutions with experts, before quizzing local politicians on their Climate Action strategies.

There was lots of great discussion worth noting, so we’re reporting each day’s targets, questions and potential solutions in a three-part series.

Day 1 – How might we take 40% of traffic off our roads by 2030?

Traffic reduction is a core target mapped into the Bristol and West of England Climate Action Plans, and after exploring the topic, KS4 & KS5 pupils posed questions for Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees on his strategy for achieving traffic reduction.

Why do we need to slim down road traffic?

Dr Steve Melia, Senior Lecturer in Transport and Planning, UWE Bristol introduced the issue, explaining the patterns of increased traffic in the UK and introducing a few traffic reduction methods used across the world.

“Transport accounts for 27% of the UK’s carbon emissions, but is our fastest growing sector,” said Melia. He concluded that electrification wouldn’t be enough to reach carbon cutting targets and therefore traffic volume cutting methods will be required. See his video introduction below.

How to reduce traffic by 40%?

YEESS delegates watched video postcards from engineers leading the way in traffic reduction, and then discussed the various ideas presented, including:

• ‘Ideas for electric cars’ by Professor Tony Pipe from UWE
• ‘15 minute cities’ by Lucy Corfield, Atkins
• ‘Integrated public transport’ by Emilia Melville from Moving Bristol Forward

On the online chat, YEESS delegate Izaac O asked “Why will electrification on it’s own not be enough?”

He was answered by Fidel Olaye, Electronic Engineer at Babcock, “There’ll still be loads of traffic on the road and the generation of electric power used by electric cars isn’t great because pollutants are still produced.”

Discussion was dominated by questions over commuting times, electric cars and resistance to change; with young people steering towards trams in the city centre, but unconvinced by the idea of 15 minute cities.

Our city’s Climate Action strategy

Roy Kareem, Director of Bright Green Future, interviewed Bristol City Mayor Marvin Rees, who quickly picked up on the importance of engineers in managing the Climate Action response. “Fundamentally what we need to do is change the very systems that underpin city life – transport systems, energy systems, water systems, energy systems, housing systems; so we have the ability, and actually have no choice, other than to lead a low impact life,” said Rees.

In terms of transport, Rees outlined his vision – “The end goal is to have an underground over-ground for the city. An underground in the middle and an over-ground for the outside, that’s predictable, that’s fast, that’s decarbonised and that’s used by hundreds of thousands of people every day.”

Rees pointed out the need for long term financial support needed to support the infrastructure changes needed. He hopes that COP26 will help in releasing those funds from central government.

For YEESS resources, check out Digital Trailblazers site, and to view more of the discussion on the day, take a look at the YEESS website.

This week young people across the West of England discussed carbon-emission cutting solutions with experts, before quizzing local politicians on their Climate Action strategies. During the three day Youth Engineering for Environmental Sustainability Summit (YEESS), 11-13 October 2021, discussion ranged from trams in city centres, to jobs of the future. But a key theme, of how to educate the public and get everyone onboard, emerged as a major concern.

“How can we solve a problem if we  don’t know what the problem is?” said TJ, a Year 10 student from Orchard School, Bristol, frustrated about the lack of public dissemination about the Climate Action Plans for achieving Net Zero 2030. “It’s the same thing as my teacher giving me homework and a deadline, and not telling me what the homework is. The nation doesn’t know what to do.”

Politicians get quizzed

Bristol Mayor Marvin Rees addressed the young people on his Climate Action Plan on 11 October, followed by Councillor Toby Savage from South Gloucestershire Council and Councillor Sarah Warren from Bath & North East Somerset Council on 12 October.

Finally, West of England Mayor, Dan Norris had his turn to face young people from Orchard School, Bristol, face-to-face at We The Curious on 13 October.

“How do you plan on causing the public to actually change their habits – do you think it will succeed?” asked Eloise, addressing the major talking point expressed during the summit.

Mr Norris agreed that to make changes in emissions, everyone has to work together and spread the word about the impact our habits are having on the planet, and that his job was to make the “best” low carbon options easier for the public to take hold of. Like cheaper, faster buses.

Dan Norris said: “When it comes to the climate emergency, young people are well ahead of politicians. They understand the need for urgent action. They are clear-thinking and straight-talking. And they have creative ideas about how we can move quickly to meet our ambitious net zero targets.

“Our region is home to so much innovative technology, with brilliant scientists, researchers and engineers working to meet the urgent challenges we all face.

“As they move into further study and into employment these young people will become valued additions to our huge West of England pool of talent, helping shape solutions.”

Outcomes

Discussions from the summit will be communicated to policymakers in the West of England, and the Digital Engineering Technology and Innovation (DETI) Inspire educational team at UWE Bristol, supported by the West of England Combined Authority (WECA), will showcase outcomes to international audiences at COP26 in November.

We’ll be reporting more on the outcomes from YEESS in the coming weeks and legacy materials will also be available on the DETI Inspire resource hub, but for now, you can find all Q&As with politicians and expert videos on the DETI Inspire YouTube channel. If you only want to watch one, here’s our favourite video used to inspire young people in Climate Action:

Local Climate Action Plans

Bristol City Council’s Climate Action plan.

West of England Combined Authority’s Climate Action plan is currently being reviewed.