Stick or twist? Why the UK's net-zero strategy is faltering and may need to change

The UK has long been seen as a global leader on climate action. Thanks to strong public and political support, the carbon emissions generated within the UK are now less than half what they were in 1990. However, cross‑party political support has weakened in recent years, reflecting a noticeable shift in the general public’s feelings toward net‑zero.

We don’t yet fully understand what’s driving this change but we suggest that one important reason may be that the current approach to net‑zero hasn’t done enough to benefit or empower many communities.

At the same time, most of the remaining emissions are bound up with every day, people-centred activities — like transport, food, and domestic heating — meaning the next stage of decarbonisation will likely feel much more disruptive to the general public’s day-to-day life.

Ultimately, the way we currently govern net‑zero has taken us a long way, but this approach may not prove as effective in removing the remaining half of the UK’s emissions. Our research helps chart an alternative path forward towards net-zero. The JUST‑Systems project will explore new, more locally‑driven forms of governance that could better support communities and speed up decarbonisation in these everyday sectors.