Conference sustainability
SAPC Conference Sustainability
With theme of our 2024 conference sustainable Primary Care: healthy systems, healthy people we wanted to put sustainability at the heart of the operation. Conferences are carbon-intensive, primarily from delegate travel. How intense we don’t exactly know, so we are doing a research project to carbon-footprint this event, using travel data you have already submitted. Bristol Meantime here are some sustainability FAQs for your interest …
What are the green credentials of the city of Bristol?
Bristol is a national centre for sustainability initiatives. The headquarters of Sustrans and the Soil Association are in central Bristol, which was European Green Capital in 2015. It is where Green Impact for Health was founded and the university is home to the Cabot Institute for the environment.
What are my options from getting from Bristol Temple Meads train station to the venue?
It’s about a 40 minute walk and a 15 minute cycle. There are scooters and bike to hire at the station. There is also a local train to Clifton Down which would cut your walk to around 10 mins. Then there are buses. Buses to look out for are the 1,2,3, 4, 8, 9 and 72. You want a bus heading for Whiteladies Road. The First bus timetable is here.
How do I travel sustainably within Bristol?
Once you make it to the conference area you will not need more than a pair of shoes to get around. Everything is within a few minutes’ walk. The recommended hotels are also close by. If you need some wheels then why not rent an electric scooter or an eBike? To get aboard an electric scooter or bike whilst here download the TIER app and create an account to prove you are over the age of 18 with a valid full or provisional driving licence. E-scooters and e-bikes cost 99p to unlock and then 16p per minute. Users can also choose from a range of passes. TIER’s UK Access programme offers discounts for a range of users including university staff and students, Blue Light Card holders, those on income support or Universal Credit and more. If you need a cab there is lots of Uber availability.
Bristol isn’t the greatest place for parking but there are carparks in the vicinity.
Can I find any green spaces near the conference venue?
There are several green spaces on the Main Campus and around the conference venue for you to enjoy. Bristolians typically enjoy the following: Royal Fort Gardens, Quiet Garden, Brandon Hill, Clifton Down, Durdham Down, Leigh Woods, Castle Park. Check out the University wellbeing map for ideas.
How sustainable is your catering?
We are making exclusive use of Kate’s Kitchen (kateskitchenbristol.co.uk). Their sustainability credentials are solid. They prepare local, seasonal food. They try to avoid plastic in their supply chain. They major on vegetarian and vegan food. They don’t use single-use coffee cups. All meat and eggs are free range and local. Food waste is sent off to be generated into renewable energy. Their vehicles are all electric and surplus food is redistributed to homeless charities. Not bad!
Are we ordering only vegan and vegetarian?
All the food will be vegan and vegetarian with the exception of the gala dinner, where we will be offering a non-vegetarian main course option.
How disposable is your cutlery and plates?
We will be using china and glass for hot and cold drinks and serving water in jugs. The food will be served in compostable clam shells. This was the preferable option to serve people efficiently while encouraging them to circulate. We will be encouraging people to bring their own refillable water bottle and hot drinks cups, and a lunch bag or container for those who wish to eat and run on the last day of the conference.
What about printed materials?
We are using digital posterboards so that people don’t need to make, transport and dispose of physical posters. There will be a printed conference brochure but this will be slimline and will not abstracts or posters. These will instead be hosted on the comprehensive conference website. Alas for those of us who lean on conferences for our supply of pens and post-it notes, there will be no folders, or merchandise. No canvas bags of dubious recyclability.
What about the actual content of the conference?
We look forward to welcoming Dr David Pencheon and Dr Tamsin Ellis who will lead a plenary discussion on the theme “Sustainable Primary Care: where we are … where we need to be” on the Friday AM. Throughout the conference we will be staging the “Turning the Tide” arts exhibition exploring the links between water and health. Other individual talks and posters will represent the theme.
What Can I do?
We would be grateful if you could travel to the conference by public transport – Bristol has excellent rail and coach links. If you were planning to fly, please consider the options (e.g. see routezero.world for a comparison of times and carbon footprints of different travel options). While here we’d appreciate your help in disposing of waste correctly. Our helpers (clad in pre-loved University of Bristol t-shirts) will be glad to assist. Do bring refillable water bottle and hot drinks cups.
In line with the traditions of the SAPC ASM, and marking this year’s theme of sustainability, we have nominated the NHS Forest* as our official conference charity. It costs £10 to sponsor one tree. Trees oxygenate the air, store carbon, stabilise the soil, provide shade and form a habitat for hundreds of animals. You can use tree sponsorship to offset the carbon impact of your conference travel.
This page will be updated as we approach the event.
Good wishes
Professor Trevor Thompson
Conference Sustainability Lead