AG INSIGHT | 28/02/2025
Public Participation: The missing piece of the puzzle to increase resilience and reach net zero
Angela Terry MSc MEI, CEO of environmental education charity One Home and Net Zero Energy Pioneer 2024, discusses the importance of public engagement in the net zero transition.
As political developments across the world degrade progress on delivering net zero, we need to mobilise a mass movement to avert runaway climate change.
The public are aware of the crisis. In the UK, 68% of people said their local area has experienced at least one environmental problem including severe storms (34%) and flooding (32%).[1] This, alongside a growing understanding of the benefits that a low-carbon economy can provide, has increased their desire for governments and businesses to demonstrate bolder leadership to tackle carbon emissions.
People are put off by doom, but they do want consumer advice, especially if it saves them money, improves their quality of life, and brings hope. And we have a great story to tell. The green economy grew 10% last year with jobs created throughout the UK. Including the ripple effect, the economic benefits exceeded £157bn.[2]
Behaviour change is critical
Sir David Attenborough said that “Saving our planet is a communications challenge.”
2024 was the hottest year in history with the highest levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Global warming is accelerating at pace and the window to act is closing fast. Reaching net zero requires “rapid, far-reaching and unprecedent changes in all aspects of society[3]”.
Chris Skidmore’s Net Zero Review[4] states that 32 per cent of emissions reductions up to 2035 require decisions by individuals to choose low-carbon products and services, as well as reduce carbon-intensive consumption[5]. But widespread support for this is undermined by a lack of information and opportunities.
Instead, people focus on visible but low-impact actions, such as household recycling. Or they believe that solutions are more expensive and difficult than they really are. For example, insulation installations remain stubbornly low despite the substantial return on investment[6] on offer due to high energy bills driven by gas prices. Similarly, 49% of consumers want to buy low-carbon heating solutions but 73% feel they’re not well-informed enough to install a heat pump[7].
Consumer education is one of the crucial missing pieces of the jigsaw puzzle to ensure an economy-wide transformation. Thankfully, the Government has committed to rolling out a Public Participation Strategy[8] in 2025. This is good news.
We know it can work, we have seen a clear shift in areas such as transport. Car manufacturers sold a record number of electric cars in the UK in 2024. At a macro level, efforts so far have driven greenhouse gas emissions down by 53 per cent since 1990 – faster than any other G20 country.[9]
Businesses need to be actively supportive and speak up
For successful delivery, public engagement needs to be relevant and a shared endeavour, with fairness at its heart.
Limited public money can go a long way with a partnership approach:
A government-led public information campaign requires a strategic, inclusive and collaborative approach from across society including local government, institutions, community groups and NGOs. It needs to capitalise on the trusted relationships these organisations have with their audiences. The more voices the better, but businesses are a critical component of a successful campaign due to their significant resources and reach.
Information alone is not enough; the private sector also has a critical role to play in increasing the affordability and availability of greener products and services, and actively communicating with their customers, suppliers and staff on their choices.
Tackling disinformation
This is more vital as the amount of disinformation around climate solutions increases. Worryingly, X and Facebook have removed fact checking and some in the media increasingly argue against action to slow climate change, often citing false data on the economic impact[10]. This is despite the significant evidence that the transition to a low-carbon economy will drive sustainable growth. Most low-carbon investments will reduce lifetime costs to households and businesses[11] relative to reliance on fossil fuel technologies. The Climate Change Committee’s seventh carbon budget[12], estimate a saving of £570 a year in transport costs alone per household. Yet…
“The most worrying aspect of fake news is how quickly it catches on, and how fast misinformation infects our minds. Once it takes hold, our primary strategies of fact-checking and debunking are an insufficient cure[13].” Sander van der Linden, Director of the Cambridge University Social Decision-Making Lab
The government spent more than £184m on communications to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. This level of urgency and commitment should be reflected in how we communicate on climate. Nelson Mandela’s mantra still stands today: “education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
Saving lives, saving costs, saving time
Talking about climate impacts reinforces the need to cut pollution. The Environment Agency released new maps[14] in January that show England’s flooding and coastal erosion risk. One in four properties could be at risk of flooding by the mid-century. Around a third of all roads, railways, and water plants are at risk, while 59% of grade 1 agricultural land is already at risk[15].
There is no insurance or compensation for losses incurred from coastal erosion. There are 19,700 properties at risk of receiving eviction and demolition orders up to 2105. However, coastal defences are expensive, so if no sea defences are built, the number of properties at risk mainly homes increases nine fold to around 100,000.
It’s not just risk from crumbling cliffs and floods. In 2022, the UK experienced 24,000 wildfires[16] and around 43% of London properties are likely to be affected by subsidence by 2030[17].
These destructive events will continue at pace and insurance premiums will continue to rise without decisive action now. Many communities will become uninsurable, and lives and livelihoods will be lost. As the impact of climate change becomes more pressing, collaboration between consumers, government and business is critical.
Citizens and businesses alike need help to protect their properties and their wellbeing and in turn increase support for the transition. Adaptation will help us become more resilient.
No time to sit on the fence
Tackling climate change is the biggest challenge of our time and a society-wide response is needed. A well-resourced, inclusive and trusted public information campaign delivered through an expansive network of organisations can accelerate behaviour change and help stop runaway global warming. It’s time to unleash people power through mass public participation. Doing nothing is a choice. This is no time to sit on the fence or hide behind bureaucracy. To quote Hoesung Lee, IPCC Chair: “We are at a crossroads. The decisions we make now can secure a liveable future.”. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t want to support the most important social movement of all time?
If you would like to discuss how your business can participate and support a public information campaign, please contact Angela Terry CEO of the charity One Home info@onehome.org.uk
[1] Climate Change in the British Mind Yale Program on Climate Change Communication Leiserowitz, A., Carman, J., Goddard, E., Verner, M., Rosenthal, S., & Marlon, J. (2025). Climate Change in the British Mind, 2024. Yale University. New Haven, CT: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
[2] Stalling net-zero in the UK ‘indisputably costlier than action’, says CBI – edie
[3] IPCC report on limiting warming to 1.5C
[4]https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1128689/mission-zero-independent-review.pdf
[5] In our hands: behaviour change for climate and environmental goals House of Lords In our Hands Environment and Climate Change Committee
[6] https://onehome.org.uk/campaign/campaigns/lofts/savings/
[7] https://les.mitsubishielectric.co.uk/latest-news/8-out-of-10-homeowners-still-using-gas-while-73-unaware-of-low-carbon-alternatives
[8] Accelerating to Net Zero: responding to the CCC progress report and delivering the Clean Energy Superpower Mission (accessible webpage) – GOV.UK
[9] Government confirms UK emissions have fallen 53 per cent since 1990 | BusinessGreen News
[10] https://pressgazette.co.uk/media-audience-and-business-data/climate-change-scepticism-almost-extinct-from-uk-national-press/
[12] The Seventh Carbon Budget – Climate Change Committee
[13] Sander van der Linden; Director of the Cambridge University Social Decision-Making Lab
[14] https://environment.data.gov.uk/dataset/9fede91f-5acd-4fd2-9bd8-98153fa3c2ff
[15] https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-assessment-of-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-in-england-2024/national-assessment-of-flood-and-coastal-erosion-risk-in-england-2024
