Picture shows Minister for Climate Katie Wright (far left) with members of our team and the Cumbria Climate Assembly.
This month, we travelled to Manchester for the North West Net Zero Hub’s Energising Britain event, bringing together organisations from across the region to share ideas and experiences about climate action, clean energy and community .
Our Business Development Manager, Caroline, joined a panel discussion on Building Local Partnerships, where she spoke about Futureproof Cumbria’s work supporting grassroots climate action through initiatives including the Cumbria Sustainability Network and the Zero Carbon Cumbria Partnership.
The day was packed with insights, but one theme came through strongly: delivering net zero is ultimately about people.
We heard from Climate Outreach about the importance of framing climate conversations around issues that resonate with people’s everyday lives – nature, health, happiness, fairness and future generations. It was a timely reminder that climate action isn’t just about reducing emissions; it’s about creating a better future for our communities.
Some thought-provoking contributions from our patron, Mike Berners-Lee, also stuck with us. His challenge to “tell the full story of the climate crisis” reinforced the need for honest conversations, while recognising the opportunities that climate action can bring.
Another key takeaway was the importance of listening. Speakers highlighted that while some people remain sceptical, meaningful engagement starts with understanding different perspectives and finding common ground rather than creating division.
We also heard inspiring examples of how communities can drive change. Zahara from Faiths4Change spoke about the strength of trusted local networks within faith communities, while young people from Youth Focus North West and 4Planet challenged us to think differently about how we create opportunities for younger generations to engage.
Above left: Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, opens the day. Caroline (pictured right) joins the first panel discussion. Above right: Members of our team and the Cumbria Climate Assembly chat to the Minister for Climate, Katie Wright.
Their message was simple: young people care deeply about these issues and have a huge amount to contribute, but too often the opportunities to get involved aren’t accessible. The challenge is not how they come to us, but how we go to them.
We were particularly pleased to be joined by members of the Cumbria Climate Assembly. Their attendance was a welcome reminder of the importance of involving local people in conversations about climate action and ensuring community voices remain at the heart of decision-making.
The event opened with remarks from the Minister for Energy Security and Net Zero, Ed Miliband, and closed with reflections from Minister for Climate, Katie White. We were also delighted to have the opportunity to speak with Katie about the work taking place across Cumbria and the role that local partnerships can play in turning ambition into action.
In her closing remarks, Katie thanked delegates for sharing their experiences, insights and stories throughout the day, reminding us that these stories make real change happen.
That sentiment captured one of the strongest messages from the event. Facts and figures matter, but stories help people connect, understand what’s possible and see the role they can play in creating change.
We left Manchester with new ideas, new connections and plenty to reflect on. Many of the lessons shared reinforced approaches we are already embedding in our work, while also offering fresh inspiration for how we continue to engage communities across Cumbria.
Thank you to the North West Net Zero Hub, DESNZ, the speakers, panellists and everyone who contributed to such an engaging and thought-provoking day.
Sometimes, it really is good to get out.
