The National Climate Change and Net Zero Conference 2026
Supporters include:
Overview
The UK government has reaffirmed its commitment to accelerating the shift away from fossil fuels, with a national mission to deliver clean power by 2030 and reach Net Zero by 2050. As this transition gains pace, the role of local authorities and the public sector in leading delivery has never been more crucial.
- Whilst the public sector only accounts for around 2% of UK greenhouse gas emissions, local authorities themselves have an impact of 80% of emissions from their local area, and direct impact over a third of emissions (NAO, 2022)
- The global green transition is projected by Arup and Oxford Economics to add $10.3 trillion to global GDP by 2050 and Net Zero sectors are already growing 3 times faster than the wider UK economy (Arup, 2023)
- two thirds of councils in England are not confident of hitting their net zero targets within their set timescales (LGA, 2024)
Join us at The National Climate Change Conference 2026 to hear the latest guidance and policies from the government, and their proposals to empower local government to reach their ambitious targets. From scaling retrofit programmes and green finance to delivering clean energy and responding to extreme weather, this year’s event will share actionable insights from across the UK.
2026 Agenda
Online Registration
Chair’s Opening Remarks
Diarmaid Clery, Lecturer in Engineering for Net Zero, The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Manchester (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Delivering Clean Energy Through Community Energy
- Setting the scene for community energy in the UK
- What are the main barriers and challenges in the sector?
- What can the Government and Local Authorities do to support community energy?
- Community energy in practice – real world examples
Connie Duxbury, Chair, Community Energy London (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Breaking the Upfront Cost Barrier: Energy Democracy Councils Can Reserve Now
Paul Phillips, CEO and Founder, We Are Energy Cooperative (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Tackling Climate Change on a Local Level
- Exploring how councils can drive emissions reductions through planning, housing, transport, waste, and local energy initiatives
- Understanding how community engagement, data-driven insights, and area-specific plans are being used to design impactful, inclusive climate interventions
- Discussing current limitations and opportunities in financing local climate action
- Strategies for embedding climate risk management into infrastructure, social care, and emergency planning
Annie Pickering, Operations Director, Climate Emergency UK CLC (CONFIRMED)
Questions & Answers
Comfort Break
Keynote: Current Trends and Future Forecasting the Transition to Electric Vehicles
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The journey to decarbonising transport – how far have we come, how far do we have to go?
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Public Sector Fleets – what are the challenges and opportunities in decarbonisation? How can partnership working unlock the transition?
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Private vehicles – have we made it out of the early adopter stage for electric vehicles? What does this mean for the future of electric vehicles?
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How are local authorities leading the way in electric vehicle infrastructure – what does systems change look like in reality?
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What is next for transport decarbonisation? How do we tackle the difficult use cases? What technologies are on the horizon?
Beth Morley, Human Insights Lead, Cenex (CONFIRMED)
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Case Study: Exploring How UK Councils are Integrating EV Charging into Climate Action Plans to Meet Net-zero Goals
- The benefits of good data
- EVI challenges
- How councils are responding
- Wiltshire EVI progress with the use of Net Zero Data
Leslie Addo, Net Zero Data – Product, Catapult Energy Systems (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Lunch Break
Breakout Networking: Co-Designing Climate Action Plans with Local Residents and Community Groups
This breakout networking session provides the opportunity to discuss your experiences of co-designing action plans with local residents and community groups to drive engagement and elicit behaviour change. Explore your common challenges and solutions whilst networking with colleagues from a range of organisations.
Panel: Utilising Earth Observation to Inform Resilience Decision-Making and Strategies to Achieve Net Zero
Prof Mat Disney, Divisional Director Carbon Cycle, National Centre for Earth Observation and Professor of Remote Sensing, UCL (CONFIRMED)
Catherine Greene, Head of User Centred Design Satellite Applications, Catapult (CONFIRMED)
Naomi Rowe-Gurney, Research Development Manager, UKCEH (CONFIRMED)
Dan Wicks, MD, GHGSat UK (CONFIRMED)
Moderated by: Krupa Nanda Kumar, Climate Services Development Manager, Space4Climate (CONFIRMED)
Keynote: Domestic Retrofit and Decarbonisation
Paul Youngman, Consultant Specialising in Sustainability, Retrofit, and Domestic Decarbonisation (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Comfort Break
Case Study: Insetting Carbon Emissions Through Woodland Carbon Code Projects
Session Details Coming Soon…
Leon Debell, Woodland Carbon Code Monitoring Advisor, Scottish Forestry (CONFIRMED)
Case Study: Utilising High-Integrity Woodland Carbon Credits to Restore UK Temperate Rainforests
James Byrne, Head of Nature Markets, Plantlife International (CONFIRMED)
Questions and Answers
Chair’s Closing Remarks
Diarmaid Clery, Lecturer in Engineering for Net Zero, The Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, University of Manchester (CONFIRMED)
Conference Close
Get in Touch
Speakers
Annie Pickering
Operations Director
Climate Emergency UK CLC
Beth Morley
Human Insights Lead
Cenex
Maya Singer Hobbs
Senior Research Fellow
Institute for Public Policy Research
Testimonials
Great event to discuss further and find out additional information on how the public sector is addressing the challenge of decarbonising the public sector.
This was an interesting event, and gave insight into the breadth of regional activity on climate, highlighting opportunities for partnership and engagement – it was really helpful to look up and engage outside of my own sector.
A big thank you to Government Events for organizing such an engaging and impactful conference. Looking forward to continuing these important conversations!
Excellent and engaging Climate Change Conference
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Why You Should Attend
- Receive the latest guidance and policies from the new Labour government to empower local government in achieving ambitious climate targets.
- Explore case studies from local authorities showcasing strategic, multi-sector approaches to reducing carbon emissions.
- Understand strategies for enhancing energy efficiency, reducing scope 3 emissions, and driving value through low-carbon solutions.
- Discover insights from local and regional bodies on comprehensive approaches to climate change adaptation and resilience.
- Take advantage of opportunities to engage with cross-sector leaders and learn best practices for sustainable and resilient governance.
Who Should Attend
This conference is designed for professionals responsible for or involved in reducing carbon emissions, enhancing energy efficiency, and driving best-value low-carbon solutions to achieve net zero targets, including:
| Job Title Examples | Organisation Type Examples |
| Director/Head of Environment and Climate | Local Authorities |
| Head of Climate Emergency and Environment Strategy | Regional Authorities |
| Group Sustainability Directors/Managers | Housing Associations |
| Net-Zero Managers/Officers | Transport Providers |
| Heads of Estate Management | Energy Providers |
| Climate Change Specialists | Community Action Groups |
| Head of Planning / Procurement | Charities |
Pricing Options
PRIVATE SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
PUBLIC SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
VOLUNTARY SECTOR
Your delegate place at this leading conference gives you: Full access to the conference; E-guide; Networking opportunities during the day; Access to presentations post conference; 8 CPD Points.
Sponsorship
Raise Your Profile, Showcase Your Solutions, Generate New Business
If your products, services, and solutions can support our audiences in their roles, and you want to make connections and generate new business with key stakeholders, decision makers, and influencers, then please contact us HERE
IMPORTANT: There are only a small number of sponsorship opportunities available to ensure maximum exposure and ROI – contact us today to secure your place.
Virtual vs F2F
Whilst F2F provide better options for networking, there are many distinct advantages of sponsoring our online conferences including:
- Wider geographical reach of delegates and a different audience who prefer online to f2f
- Lower sponsorship package costs
- No travel/accommodation
- Less time out of the office
- No stand materials required (lower costs)
- 1 of only 2 sponsors involved – less competition on the day
- Prime speaking slot in the morning of the conference including Q&A – less distractions and easier for delegates to hear/absorb information
- Receive all delegate data after the conference to follow-up directly with those who attend and don’t attend (small % but still key stakeholders)
- Ongoing exposure via OnDemand access (coming soon)
To find out more and discuss your specific objectives, please contact us below:
