Net zero is often framed around what people might lose: higher costs, new rules, taxes, bans or disruption. That has created space for confusion and pushback, even though the UK’s 2050 target still has broad public support.
The problem isn’t that people have never heard of net zero. It is that many are unclear about what it actually means for them: their homes, their bills, their jobs and their communities, and when the conversation is dominated by sacrifice rather than solutions, it is no surprise that trust starts to fray.
This matters because the UK is already seeing the effects of climate change, from hotter days to heavier rainfall and longer dry spells. The challenge now is to make the case for action in a way that feels honest, practical and relevant to people’s lives.
As part of London Climate Action Week, Blakeney is hosting a breakfast discussion on the net zero narrative gap: how we got here, why the current debate feels stuck, and what policymakers, businesses, campaigners and communicators can do to build support for climate solutions.
We will be joined by speakers from politics, business, climate policy and communications for a practical conversation about how to move beyond polarised arguments and talk about net zero in a way that people can actually connect with.
When: Thursday 25 June, 9:00–10:30am
Where: Old Queen Street Café, 6 Old Queen Street, Westminster, SW1H 9HP
Doors will open at 9:00am for networking, a light breakfast and refreshments. The panel will start at 9:15am and finish at 10:30am.
Speakers include:
This event is for policymakers, NGOs, businesses and anyone working across climate, sustainability, public affairs or communications.
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