Belfast’s City Carbon Card

Tim Walker

Head of Waste Management

Belfast City Council

OutlineOutline

Introduction

Background

Partners

Interreg IVb proposal

Visual concept

Benefits

Next steps

Contact details

Introduction - EurocitiesIntroduction - Eurocities

Belfast City Council has for several years, explored options to use suitable incentives aimed at influencing behavioural change in a manner that reflects the growing need to address human induced climate change and poor resource management. The Council has now partnered with Dublin Regional Authority to develop & implement a “reward card” as part of these efforts.

BackgroundBackground

Waste Management Service established in 2003

Focus upon treatment & disposal

Behaviour & attitude change of public needed as well as new boxes, bins & facilities

Promotions campaigns ramped up circa £300kpa

Recognition that emphasis on economic push

Needed to consider alternatives – i.e. economic pull

Evolution

Report to Committee in 2003

Initial presentation to stakeholders on education & behaviour change, including the Nu-card project

Revised proposals in 2004

Strong (positive) Councillor engagement

Hiatus as rolled-out new services

Revisited reward card idea in 2007/08

Selecting Interreg

Triple crunch issues increasingly being experienced

Recognised possibility to link with other cities’ agendas

Identified EU funding – Interreg IVb

Under priorities, recognised scope for environmental challenge

Promote an innovative & sustainable use to natural resource management

Promote an innovative approach to risk management & prevention

Promote transnational & spatial approach to…minimising greenhouse gas emissions…

Eurocities obvious area for partner search

Advertisement posted in July 2008

Partners

Interreg IVb

Belfast City Council

Dublin Regional Authority

Liverpool City Council

Trier

Calais City Council

Amsterdam City Council

Brussels Regional Authority

French Environment and Energy Management Agency – Ademe

Qoin

The Interreg IV Proposal

Identify scope of the projectInfluence behaviour of public & retailers

Reduce production of household waste & increase its separation & re-use

Stimulate public transport

Increase the market for sustainable products

Select an appropriate tool – such as a reward cardNU Spaarpas card example

1 point per Euro for buying in shops

4 points per Euro for sustainable products

Labelled products (Organic, Energy Label A, Eco, FSC-wood, Fair Trade, &c.)

Bicycles, green financial products, renewable energy

Rental, repairs, second hand goods

Why a reward card?

Determine appropriate outcomes

Research shows that reward systems working towards specific targets motivate people

People working towards specific targets work harder & realize more than people without targets

When people are supported in realizing their goals artificially, they show a stronger commitment to reaching this

Source: Points Foundation, 2008

Reward Cards

How it works

The theory

Develop & introduce a new (environmental) instrument

Achieve more with less budget

Use money more than once

Realize efficiency savings

Use modern technology

Use the economy to stimulate public behaviour change

Using a monetary model & adapting elements from popular financial/marketing programmes

A “green for green” reward programme

Encourages the public to buy “green” products & adopt the “right” behaviour

Stimulates the retail industry (& their suppliers) to go green

It can be promoted as a loyalty programme

Local government

Consumers Citizens

Visual Concept

Citizens receive a card from the municipality

Local government

Consumers Citizens

Fund

Green Money is bought for national currency at the Fund.

Citizens are rewarded with green money for good behavior, like waste separation, voluntary work or energy savings.

Visual Concept

Policy / products / services

Pound / Euro

Green Euro

Businesses

Consumers Citizens

Fund

Visual Concept

Policy / products / services

Pound / Euro

Green Euro

Businesses need to meet specific criteria to participate.

These points are bought for euros at the FundLocal government

Consumers receive Green Money as loyalty for shopping at participating businesses.

Businesses

Consumers Citizens

Fund

Visual Concept

Policy / products / services

Pound / Euro

Green Euro

Local government

Consumers receive an additional bonus

for the right purchases in Green

money.

Businesses

Consumers Citizens

Fund

Visual Concept

Policy / products / services

Pound / Euro

Green Euro

Local government

Consumers can use green money for green purchases. Green Money can be spend on the next purchase, or be saved for larger items. Donations are possible as well.

Businesses

Consumers Citizens

Fund

Visual Concept

Policy / products / services

Pound / Euro

Green Euro

Local government

Businesses are stimulated to pay each other with Green Money

Businesses

Consumers Citizens

Fund

Visual Concept

Policy / products / services

Pound / Euro

Green Euro

Local government

Under specific conditions businesses can convert Green Money back to national tender.

Businesses

Consumers Citizens

Fund

Visual Concept

Policy / products / services

Pound / Euro

Green Euro

Local government

Greenbehaviour

Greenrewards

Green shopping

Regional Economy

Benefits

For Government/CouncilUse money at least twice

Efficiency savings

Improved regional economySustainability, employment, diversity

Integrated approach for different issues

For the public/consumersClear, practical & provides a suitable “plan for action”

Rewarded for “doing the right thing”

For BusinessIncrease in turnover

New (loyal) customers

Practical demonstration of CSREfficiency savings

Increasingly loyal employees

Improved image

Decreased business risk

Partner topics

Reducing environmental impact of consumption

Improving sustainability & stimulating green consumption

Encouraging greater use of “greener” transport

Stimulating regional economic growth

&…

Practical framework for inculcating better, personal approaches to sustainable development

Establishing best practice

Developing a common approach which has a relevance beyond just a city/region

Key learning

Mass introduction to consumer is preferable

Idealism alone does not attract businesses

Make the (technical) system as easy as possible

Extra training to shop personnel

Next stepsNext steps

Committee report prepared – March

Interreg application lodged – April

Develop strands with each partner

Select technology

Trial project

Feedback

Further details

Further details available

Tim Walker, Head of Waste Management

Martin Doherty, Waste Manager (Business Development & Education)

0044 (28) 90320202

www.wastemanagement@belfastcity.gov.uk