Achieving net zero is a complex systemic challenge that plays out differently on global, national and local levels. It sits on top of existing challenges facing local economies, from inequalities to legacy infrastructure. In the face of a rapidly changing climate, the pace of the transition really matters if the UK is to meet its climate targets.
There is no one-size-fits-all solution that will get us there. What works for one place and its unique economy won’t necessarily work for another. The good news is that there is a wide range of options for decision-makers to consider, like effective technologies, good practices, lessons from similar places, and research insights. The British Academy’s 2025 report, Governance to Accelerate Net Zero, showed that UK governance is creaking under the complexities of the net zero agenda, creating frictions that slow down delivery. It proposes that political and policy leaders should deploy good democratic governance approaches to navigate this complexity and reach targets on schedule.
Democratic governance is the vehicle through which policymakers identify, plan, deliver and create accountability for locally appropriate pathways to net zero, rather than relying on one-size-fits-all solutions. While local decision-makers face considerable pressure on their resources, sustaining public support needs to be factored in when weighing up investment in these good governance mechanisms as part of climate action. Governance to Accelerate Net Zero identifies eight accelerators that combine good quality decision-making and leadership with participatory, place-and-people focused approaches, helping authorities achieve net zero targets while sustaining public support.
Two of the accelerators stand out as crucial for ensuring that net zero works for local economies. The first accelerator is collaborating with intermediaries. This is particularly important for local economies because intermediaries are often businesses with a local presence that have the same pride-in-place as the communities they serve. They have the capability to bridge gaps, connecting people, communities, businesses and government. They form partnerships, transfer knowledge, foster buy-in, develop locally appropriate pathways, generate resources and build confidence. However, intermediaries often need small amounts of financial support and an enabling environment provided by government to get started. Local and national governments
can also use their convening power and knowledge-sharing structures to support cross-sector partnerships through intermediaries. The second accelerator is navigating just transitions. Wales has just developed a new Just Transition Framework which, alongside the Well-being of Future Generations Act, provides an excellent opportunity for leadership. But navigating a just transition means engaging with complex histories and power imbalances, particularly in sectors such as energy-intensive industries, farming and food production. These imbalances can come into stark relief when policymakers, local businesses, communities and outside investors are drawn together to pursue net zero goals within local economies, although their interests might not immediately align. Understanding these dynamics, being transparent, and acting on this knowledge are essential to finding fair pathways that can sustain public support. Here, local and national government can also draw on knowledge sharing, participatory approaches, and multi-level partnerships to navigate this complexity. The British Academy brings a wealth of evidence to bear on reaching net zero and addressing other complex systemic challenges facing policymakers. The biggest take-away is that there is already a diverse evidence base that can inform policy in this space. To a large extent, we already know what works. There are many examples to learn from, provided policymakers factor in nuanced understandings of people and society. None of these represent easy solutions, but there are numerous workable options that, if enabled by good democratic governance, can help make net zero work for local economies.
