Net Zero Governance

Reaching net zero is a complex, systemic challenge. It demands good democratic governance to drive the urgent collective action necessary across regions, sectors and communities.

The British Academy’s Net Zero Governance policy programme has marshalled SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities and the Arts for People, Economy & Environment) evidence to support political and policy leaders in the UK who are responsible for reaching net zero, to:

• navigate complex, nuanced decisions, while maximising the opportunities presented by the net zero transformation; and
• connect decision-makers and diverse communities (facilitated by intermediaries) around actions that deliver, at pace, the collective action needed.

This major review has analysed evidence and insights generated over three years to understand why and how good democratic governance is crucial to navigating a path to net zero, while managing wider challenges around strained public finances, rising inequalities, intersecting vulnerabilities, polarisation and eroding trust in public institutions.

In 2025-2026, we will continue to support knowledge sharing between researchers and policymakers across levels of government to help inform the UK’s path to a well-governed and fairer net zero future.

The programme is directly overseen by a working group: Professor Sarah Birch FBA (from February 2024), Professor Hilary Graham FBA, Dr Victoria Hirth (until December 2024), Professor Andy Jordan FBA and Professor Tim O’Riordan FBA.

• Our findings, case studies and recommendations are set out in our final policy report: Governance to Accelerate Net Zero (2025)

• Find our interim report: Governance for Net Zero (2024)

• The full range of funded research, evidence and outputs developed in the programme can be found in our Net Zero Governance evidence hub.

Funded research papers and projects

• A large scale research project exploring how national net zero policy translates to local capability and action in ‘Implementing effective and just net zero policies’
• A set of 11 discussion papers drawing on case studies from net zero initiatives across the UK and a range of topics - from transition planning in Grangemouth to sharing the benefits of solar panels with tenants living in council flats in Hackney.
• A set of five discussion papers exploring the governance factors on the road to net zero across housing, small to medium-sized businesses, and people-centred and place-based approaches.
• Nine research projects developing shared understandings of sustainable futures through collaborative and creative engagement methods with communities and local actors.

Stakeholder engagement

The programme convened over 200 stakeholders across research, policy and practice:

• Six roundtable events (see a 2024 summary note from the DESNZ Roundtable on understanding publics)
• Two national workshops
• Two place-based workshops
• Two interdisciplinary knowledge exchange workshops
• Regular one-to-one stakeholder engagements
• Cross-academy parliamentary reception

If you require further information on this scheme or would like to engage with us, please contact Tuisku (Snow) Kolu on [email protected], Henry Richards on [email protected] or Chizitera Pennington on [email protected].

You can contact the British Academy public policy team on [email protected].