874. Public engagement on net zero is the missing piece of the puzzle. Although almost half of the measures in the Net Zero Strategy require action from individuals, the Strategy said little about how government will engage with people on the many areas of their lives that will see change. There has been no overarching public campaign on net zero in the UK since the Act on CO2 campaign, which ended over a decade ago.
875. Previous government interventions on behaviour change are helpful blueprints. For example, the Government's response to the coronavirus pandemic demonstrated how people's behaviours can be successfully influenced. Government was advised by the Independent Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours (SPI-B) on how behavioural science could help people to take up the measures recommended by experts. Government provided clear messaging and information about what was needed and why, using experts to help communicate this. The adoption of masks and regular handwashing, amongst other changes, was consequently widespread. Separately, government also employed a multi-tool approach, using information provision alongside regulation and healthcare to significantly reduce the rate of smoking.
876. Supporting people to make green choices at the scale required to deliver net zero is a big challenge. A multi-lever approach, backed up by a clear and consistent policy framework, and which learns from previous interventions and behavioural science, is needed. This is an overarching issue, which requires a joined-up solution, alongside the sector-specific action set out in sections 5.2 and 5.3, and in parallel to interventions that bring down costs and make low carbon choices more accessible.