Involving the public in achieving net zero

About this event:

Kerry McCarthy MP, Minister for Climate, will be discussing the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero’s emerging Net Zero Public Participation Strategy. She will be joined on the panel by:

• Matt Scarff, Managing Director, BAFTA Albert
• Rachael Orr, Chief Executive, Climate Outreach
• Sarah Allan, public engagement specialist
• (Chair) Miriam Levin, Director of Participatory Programmes, Demos

We will hear about creative ways of bringing people into the net zero policy making process, through telling inspiring stories about the net zero transition to broad and diverse audiences, and through participatory policy making. We will discuss how different actors in the public engagement space can work together in partnership to facilitate public participation with net zero. Bring your ideas and questions for the panel so we can have a rich discussion in the room.

Join us for the first of a series of exciting and topical events for the Collaborative Democracy Network in 2025. We’re delighted that the CDN is supported this year by Carnegie UK. Carnegie UK aims to improve collective wellbeing by influencing public policy and practice.

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The UK government will publish a Net Zero Public Participation Strategy in 2025, setting out how it will support people to adopt new technologies, as well as opportunities to ensure that public views are considered in policy development.

The public has an important role to play in the journey to net zero, both in terms of their actions, and consent and support for the changes associated with the transition. We know that most people in the UK are concerned about climate change, and people are willing to make changes and think their actions can make a difference. Enabling people to help shape the transition to net zero will be critical.

At this event you will have the opportunity to hear more about the emerging Net Zero Public Participation Strategy, share your views and ask questions of the minister and other panellists about how to best involve people in and enable them to participate in the transition to net zero.

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About the Speakers:

Kerry McCarthy MP, Minister for Climate, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero

Kerry McCarthy was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero on 9 July 2024. Minister McCarthy is responsible for the Net Zero Strategy, international climate and energy policy as well as citizen engagement.

Minister McCarthy was elected as the Labour MP for Bristol East in May 2005.

Kerry has held several posts while in opposition including her role as Shadow Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Matt Scarff, Managing Director, BAFTA Albert

Matt is the Managing Director at BAFTA albert, the leading authority on environmental sustainability in the UK’s film and television industry. Matt has a proven track record of driving innovation, leading high-performing teams, and delivering measurable results that make a tangible impact.

Matt develops forward-thinking strategies, optimises digital resources, and nurtures strong industry partnerships across the UK and internationally. Matt is committed to enhancing operational efficiency, safeguarding intellectual property, and expanding albert’s global influence as a pioneer in sustainable production practices.

As the Executive Sponsor of BAFTA’s internal LGBTQI+ Queer Network, Matt actively promote inclusivity and representation within the organisation.

Alongside Matt’s role at BAFTA albert, he is also an ICF-ACC qualified coach, empowering individuals and organisations to overcome challenges, unlock their full potential, and achieve meaningful growth.

Rachel Orr, Chief Executive, Climate Outreach

Rachael is the CEO of Climate Outreach, who help people and organisations tell new climate stories to inspire greater climate action.

Rachael joined Climate Outreach from PlaceShapers, the national network for community-based housing associations. She led their organisational strategy, member services, policy and campaigns with a particular focus on place, community and sustainability. Previously, Rachael was Head of Oxfam's UK programme, leading Oxfam's advocacy, campaigning and programme work on UK poverty and held various senior policy and campaigning roles at Shelter.

Rachael has also served in various governance roles. She was Chair of Angel Shed Theatre Company, an inclusive theatre charity in Islington and a Non-Executive Director at Suffolk Housing Society. She is currently Chair of Trustees at the Refugee Council.

Sarah Allan, deliberative engagement specialist

Sarah is one of the UK’s leading specialists in public engagement in decision-making. She has over a decade of experience in designing and delivering innovative public engagement that works for both those taking part and commissioning bodies. Sarah has led work at UK-wide, devolved, local and hyper local level, including Climate Assembly UK for six select committees of the House of Commons. She has a particular interest in public participation on climate change, and the different types of participation needed to address it successfully.

About the Collaborative Democracy Network

The Collaborative Democracy Network is a new event series created by Demos. It is for politicians, policymakers and civil society to come together to discuss innovations that put people at the heart of policy making.

If we’re going to build a more collaborative democracy that supports politicians to work with the public on the difficult choices that lie ahead, we’re going to have to do policy making differently. This means bold thinking about what’s possible, looking honestly at what the challenges will be, and drawing inspiration from democratic innovation from across the world.

Demos will be hosting a series of regular events bringing together leading voices in participatory ways of working with politicians, policy-makers and civil society from across the UK. Together we will explore how collaborative democracy can become a reality, creating better policy making processes, strengthening citizenry, and renewing trust in our democracy.

About Demos

Demos is Britain’s leading cross-party think tank, producing research and policies that have been adopted by successive governments for over 30 years. Our mission is to build a more collaborative democracy in which politicians and citizens partner to tackle the challenges facing our country.

We combine rigorous research methodology with participatory methods, such as citizens’ assemblies, co-design workshops and civic tech, that enable people’s voices to be heard on the policy issues that affect their lives, bringing people together to find common ground and to develop positive solutions together.

About Carnegie UK

Carnegie UK’s purpose is better wellbeing for people in the UK and Ireland. We are a charitable foundation set up over 100 years ago, based in Dunfermline and established with an endowment from the philanthropist Andrew Carnegie.

We aim to improve collective wellbeing by influencing public policy and practice. We do this by conducting research and writing reports. But we’re also working to amplify the voices of a wide range of individuals and communities, drawing on their experience to make the case for change to politicians, civil servants and other decision-makers.