On 11th March 2026, the Net Zero APPG hosted a parliamentary session on how to strengthen public support for the Net Zero transition, with a particular focus on communicating the benefits to households and communities.
Held in a well-attended committee room and chaired by Dr Simon Opher MP, the session brought together parliamentarians, regulators, experts, and industry representatives to explore how the transition can be made more tangible, fair, and compelling to the public.
The discussion covered a number of key themes, including:
- Reframing the narrative around Net Zero, with strong agreement that messaging should focus on practical benefits rather than abstract targets or technical language.
- Electricity pricing and affordability, with contributors highlighting the gap between electricity and gas prices as a major barrier to home decarbonisation, and calling for reforms to make low-carbon choices more financially attractive.
- Consumer behaviour and ease of adoption, noting that households often default to the simplest option, particularly in urgent situations, and that low-carbon alternatives must be made easier, faster, and more reliable to scale uptake.
- Misinformation and public trust, with participants raising concerns about the growing influence of misleading narratives and emphasising the importance of trusted voices, real-world examples, and clearer communication.
- Housing, fuel poverty, and health, where speakers stressed that improving housing quality and reducing fuel poverty should be central to the Net Zero agenda, delivering immediate benefits alongside long-term emissions reductions.
- Skills, workforce, and delivery, highlighting the need to expand training and coordination across sectors to ensure the UK has the capacity to deliver large-scale home and infrastructure upgrades.
- Community energy and local engagement, with discussion on the role of locally-led projects in building public support and demonstrating visible benefits of the transition.
Speakers also reflected on the wider political and economic context, noting that recent energy price shocks and geopolitical instability have reinforced the importance of reducing reliance on fossil fuels and accelerating the transition.
We are grateful to our expert speakers from Ofgem, Nesta, National Energy Action, and London South Bank University, as well as all the attendees who contributed to a thoughtful and constructive discussion.
You can read the full minutes here.
