Close
Case study: the method behind the Net Zero Innovation Programme
21 May 2025
Over three pages, the UCL Climate Action Unit explains how it co-created the Net Zero Innovation Programme, in partnership with UCL Public Policy and the Local Government Association.
The origins of the Net Zero Innovation Programme
The programme was created in response to a clear need: in 2019 many councils were declaring climate emergencies.
Academic researchers with technical expertise on climate and net zero were keen to collaborate with their local councils to develop tangible actions following these emergency declarations. However, councils found it
challenging to access the skills and knowledge available in universities.
The Net Zero Innovation Programme (NZIP) provided a structured way for the two professional communities to
effectively work together and form long-lasting partnerships.
Who is the case study for?
This document is for anyone interested in how academics and councils can collaborate to tackle local policy challenges.
It outlines the structure of the programme and documents what we learned from running the programme for three years.
These insights are highly transferable: a similar programme (or components of it) could be run for other key local authority priorities e.g. housing or social care.
View the case study in full
