Public engagement

887.  Awareness of net zero and of what it means for people needs to be improved. BEIS' Public Attitudes Tracker shows that while 89% of people have some awareness of net zero, 41% say they know only a little or hardly anything about it, and while 83% are concerned about climate change, 15% are not.616 The survey shows a correlation between concern about climate change and people making green choices: 65% of people who are very concerned about the climate consider energy efficiency when making a purchase, compared to just 32% of those not concerned.617 The Review has shown that even without the need to reduce emissions, net zero measures make sense because they can provide cost savings and other benefits. We have heard that many people do not recognise the urgent need to take action and the many benefits that the transition can bring.

888.  Those who do want to take action lack clear, trusted information and advice. Most people already think they are doing enough and are not clear on what further changes they may need to make during the course of the transition.618 For those who do want to take action, knowledge of the options and their co-benefits is limited: Citizens Advice told the Review that "awareness of certain net zero technologies and their benefits remains low, and can be a barrier to their uptake."619 BEIS' Public Attitudes Tracker shows that 47% of people feel that there is so much conflicting information that it can be difficult to know what to believe.620 Often people do not know how best to prioritise actions, e.g. whether to install a heat pump before improving energy efficiency. There are also some common misconceptions which can limit the effectiveness of people's actions, e.g. many people expect to switch heat pumps on and off like a conventional boiler, rather than to leave them on permanently. Opinium's survey showed that 20% of people could benefit from advice on how to reduce their carbon footprint.621

889.  The Review recommends that Government ramps up engagement with the public on net zero and publishes a public engagement plan for England by 2023. The Review heard that "we need to develop more positive visions of the future", which engage people and sell the benefits of net zero to them.622 Government should provide clear, honest and positive messaging about what changes people will see during the transition, and where and why action from them might be needed. This should focus on the measures with the greatest carbon and economic impacts. It should demonstrate to people the many benefits that net zero will offer them, as well as being frank about the challenges.

890.  Engagement should consider how the transition will affect different groups in different ways, while reinforcing the message that no one should be left behind. It should also consider how engaging people at the right moment in time (e.g., when buying a house) can help to inspire action. At the same time, it should recognise the need to make green choices more affordable and accessible. The Scottish Government has already published a net zero public engagement strategy (Net Zero Nation: public engagement strategy) and the Welsh Government is currently consulting on one. Many stakeholders have called for an engagement strategy for England, including most recently in the House of Lords' inquiry into behaviour change and net zero. Government should learn from the strategies published by other nations.

891.  Government should work with trusted actors to improve outreach. Clear messaging from government is important and can enable other actors to act and communicate with confidence, but we know that government is not the most trusted source on climate issues and that different groups can be reached in different ways. Experts, local authorities, businesses, the media, teachers, faith groups, friends and relatives all have important roles to play in inspiring individuals to engage with net zero. Some initiatives already exist, for example all schools will be required to have a climate action plan in place by 2025, which should include ensuring that teachers are delivering climate education to students.

892.  The government's engagement strategy should consider how it can work with trusted groups to engage and inspire, and how existing initiatives can be supported to go further. It should also consider the development of the evidence base on behavioural science relating to net zero. Pillar 4 considers how action at the local level can also help to engage communities around the country.

893.  Government should consider how different points of contact in people's lives can be harnessed to engage them on net zero. For example, government should work with energy companies to consider how energy bills could be used to communicate with households about the actions they could take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in their home.

894.  And government should listen to the concerns of the public too, including those who are nervous, anxious, and even hostile to any future energy transition. It is key that engagement takes place across all communities, political parties, and communities in the UK. We must take a whole of society approach to net zero that engages with everyone, not merely those who are willing make changes. Indeed, rather than simply imposing measures on people, individuals should be involved in shaping the actions that will affect them and should be trusted to do the right thing; this is about empowering people to make the informed choices they want to make, not telling them what to do.

895.  In 2020, the Climate Change Assembly brought together over a hundred members of the public to discuss what the UK should do to reach net zero, but since then opportunities for the public to be involved in national conversations about net zero have been lacking. Government should learn from models such as this and consider how these perspectives can be gathered routinely. Improved monitoring of green choices (discussed later in this chapter) will help to ensure that people's attitudes and behaviours are reflected in government policy.

896.  People should be supported to reduce emissions from the things they consume, should they want to. Government should ensure that consumers have the information they need to make informed decisions about their dietary choices, the goods they purchase, and the actions they take. This should take place alongside government ensuring that green choices are affordable and easy for people to make. Government should also look to improve the evidence base on how consumers can best be supported to reduce their emissions.