Event roundup: The Role of Technology in Local Net Zero Plans
Event Round-Up: The Role of Technology in Local Net Zero Planning
As the UK works towards its ambitious net zero targets, the role of local government has never been more critical. In a recent webinar hosted by techUK, we explored how digital tools, data, and innovative partnerships can empower local authorities to accelerate their climate ambitions.
This webinar brought together a panel of experts working across government, policy, and delivery to examine how technology can support local net zero plans, and what needs to change to make that potential a reality.
Watch the session back or read our summary below:
Devolution, Digital Government and Private Investment
Hamida Ali from the Future Governance Forum opened the panel with a detailed overview of their work on devolution, digital transformation, and leveraging private investment, highlighting the need for regional strategic centres and the potential benefits of the current move to wider devolution.
Hamida made the case that devolution must go beyond technocratic reform and deliver tangible improvements to people's lives. She stressed that digital transformation is not just about software or hardware, but about leadership, systems, and capacity across councils.
Local Authorities as Climate Conveners
Councillor Adam Hug, Leader of Westminster City Council and Chair of the Local Infrastructure Net Zero Board at the Local Government Association, brought a strong message about the leadership role local authorities play in the UK’s climate journey.
Despite directly controlling only a small portion of emissions, councils hold powerful levers across housing, transport, energy and waste. Adam highlighted issues around statutory responsibilities, dedicated funding as well as collaborative forums to scale best practice.
He also shared standout case studies from across the UK, including smart wind infrastructure in Cornwall and AI-enabled flood management in Northumberland, to show how local government is already innovating despite constraints.
Tech-Enabled Climate Action in Manchester
Anna Bond from the Manchester Climate Change Agency spoke about the city’s ambitious goal to reach net zero by 2038, and the key role technology plays in driving that mission forward. One such digital tool currently in use is Climate View, helping the city to plan its climate actions by providing a comprehensive overview of emissions and potential reduction strategies. This tool supports informed decision-making and investment planning for achieving net zero.
Anna was also clear about some of the challenges being faced in delivering, especially when it comes to data integration. She called for more support in developing national mechanisms for data sharing and referenced the Pathways to Resilience programme as a key step in tackling that.
Additionally, Anna also emphasised the importance of a just transition, ensuring that the benefits of decarbonisation are equitably distributed and that vulnerable communities are not disproportionately burdened.
The Power of Collaboration and Scale
A recurring theme across the panel was the need for more regional collaboration. Both Hamida and Anna underscored the importance of regional collaboration as a means to providing additional technical capacity and unlock economies of scale. Adam pointed to collective procurement and cross-sector partnerships as vital tools to address funding and capability gaps.
The panel also touched on procurement reform and the importance of multidisciplinary approaches to service redesign, especially when deploying new technologies. The panel then provided final thoughts on the role of local government as a vital enabler of climate action, and highlighted the importance of data sharing, infrastructure investment, and strategic planning.
Get Involved
If you're interested in supporting or shaping future work on local net zero through tech, please get in touch with [email protected] or [email protected], or explore more through our events and sustainability programme hub.
Our next event is a webinar on overcoming key barriers to for local government in their net zero ambitions, which you can sign up for here.
Stay tuned for updates and join the conversation as we continue to explore how digital innovation can unlock real climate outcomes at the local level.
Climate, Environment and Sustainability Programme activities
The techUK Climate Programme provides opportunities for members to present tech solutions that assist carbon emission reduction, circularity, and human rights goals. We also help our members with their own net zero transition, including measurement, implementation, compliance, and reporting. Visit the programme page here.
Our 2025 work programme for the Climate, Environment and Sustainability Programme - get involved!
Get involved with our sustainability work in 2025!
As 2024 turns in to 2025 we are really excited to share the work programme for our sustainability programme. The below sets out our focus areas, working groups and programme outline as well as events/webinars and we'd love to get you involved.
Our members develop strong networks, build meaningful partnerships and grow their businesses as we all work together to create a thriving environment where industry, government and stakeholders come together to realise the positive outcomes tech can deliver.
Associate Director for Climate, Environment and Sustainability, techUK
Craig Melson
Associate Director for Climate, Environment and Sustainability, techUK
Craig is Associate Director for Climate, Environment and Sustainability and leads on our work in these areas ranging from climate change, ESG disclosures and due diligence, through to circular economy, business and human rights, conflict minerals and post-Brexit regulation.
Prior to joining techUK he worked in public affairs and policy has an avid interest in new and emerging technologies. Craig has a degree in Ancient History from King’s College London and spends his time watching Watford FC and holding out hope for Half Life 3.
Josh joined techUK as a Programme Manager for Telecoms and Net Zero in August 2024.
In this role, working jointly across the techUK Telecoms and Climate Programmes, Josh is responsible for leading on telecoms infrastructure deployment and uptake and supporting innovation opportunities, as well as looking at how the tech sector can be further utilised in the UK’s decarbonisation efforts.
Prior to joining techUK, Josh’s background was in public affairs and communications, working for organisations across a diverse portfolio of sectors including defence, telecoms and infrastructure; aiding clients through stakeholder engagement, crisis communications, media outreach as well as secretariat duties.
Outside of work, Josh has a keen interest in music, painting and sailing.
Laura has joined techUK from March 2025 on secondment from the Civil Service Fast Stream.
In this role, she supports the work of the Climate, Environment, and Sustainability Programme and the ClimateTech Policy Coalition.
Laura has previously worked at the Department for Education and the Judicial Office, and taught English in Japan on the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Programme.
She has a degree in Modern Languages and Linguistics from the University of Oxford.
Alec joined techUK in 2025 as the Programme Manager for Sustainability within the Climate, Environment, and Sustainability Programme.
In his role, he helps lead on key sustainability and climate topics, including ESG disclosures, supply chain due diligence, human rights, e-waste, biodiversity, and the move to the circular economy. He also supports data centre members with sustainability challenges.
Prior to joining techUK, he worked as a policy staffer for a United States Senator. He is a graduate of the London School of Economics and Political Science and SUNY Geneseo. Outside of work, he enjoys playing sports, going to the movies, and travelling.
Programme Assistant, Data Centres, Climate, Environment and Sustainability, Market Access, techUK
Lucas Banach
Programme Assistant, Data Centres, Climate, Environment and Sustainability, Market Access, techUK
Lucas Banach is Programme Assistant at techUK, he works on a range of programmes including Data Centres; Climate, Environment & Sustainability; Market Access and Smart Infrastructure and Systems.
Before that Lucas who joined in 2008, held various roles in our organisation, which included his role as Office Executive, Groups and Concept Viability Administrator, and most recently he worked as Programme Executive for Public Sector. He has a postgraduate degree in International Relations from the Andrzej Frycz-Modrzewski Cracow University.
