Community engagement for net zero governance: Stakeholder workshop

Simmonds, Philippa ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3929-4934, Morse, Aimee ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5574-6040, Maye, Damian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4459-6630, Richards, Henry, Clubb, Katie, Richards, Simon and Sharman, David (2025) Community engagement for net zero governance: Stakeholder workshop. Project Report. Countryside and Community Research Institute.

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Abstract

The Rural Climathon Toolkit was formally launched at Blackfriars Priory, Gloucester, during a one-day event that brought together researchers, rural policy leads, local government officers, and community practitioners from across Gloucestershire and the wider region. The launch coincided with the British Academy’s presentation of their recent report, Governance to Accelerate Net Zero, creating a productive space to connect local, place-based community action with broader governance challenges. Held on a bright November morning, the event featured an overview of the Rural Climathon approach and the development of the Toolkit. Drawing on four years of collaborative work running Rural Climathons across England, a team from the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) at the University of Gloucestershire have developed a practical, accessible guide for rural communities and local authorities wishing to design and deliver participatory climate-action events. The Rural Climathon Toolkit’s purpose is to support context-specific dialogue, foster social learning, and help communities articulate priorities and co-produce climate solutions. The launch event introduced this resource to a wide audience of practitioners and stakeholders who are engaged with rural climate action. Alongside this, the British Academy presented their analysis of governance accelerators for net zero, situating the Toolkit within a wider conversation about institutional enablement, public engagement, and the multi-scalar nature of decarbonisation. Throughout the day, participants explored the interplay between national governance, county-level strategy, and very local activities in rural communities, culminating in an interactive zine-making workshop to reflect on what community engagement for net zero governance looks like in practice. This report summarises the structure of the day, the contributions from speakers, and the key themes and insights that emerged from discussions and activities.

Item Type:	Monograph (Project Report)
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor
Divisions:	Schools and Research Institutes > Countryside and Community Research Institute
Depositing User:	Nick Lewis
Date Deposited:	14 Jan 2026 16:10
Last Modified:	14 Jan 2026 16:10
URI:	https://eprints.glos.ac.uk/id/eprint/15751

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