Our engagement with independent directors, business leaders, academic and industry experts repeatedly highlights the importance of clear, consistent and stable policy frameworks to support and accelerate climate action.
The Centre collaborates across the University of Cambridge to engage with national, regional and local policymakers to inform and encourage development of policies and initiatives to accelerate climate action, with a particular focus on climate governance and law for climate action.
At a local level, we are exploring local authority planning laws, powers and barriers to the net zero transition and ways in which to overcome these barriers.
In partnership with the Centre for Science and Policy (CSaP), we run the secretariat for the Cambridge Zero Policy Forum, a multidisciplinary community of senior academics contributing evidence and expertise to public policies for the transition to a sustainable, inclusive, and resilient net zero society.
Related content
Expert Briefing: Air pollution, health risks and climate change
14 September 2023
Air pollution is estimated to be responsible for around 28,000 premature deaths in the UK each year. Extreme heat associated with climate change can increase pollution levels and exacerbates the health effects of breathing polluted air. This briefing explores the links between climate change, air pollution and health and the need for a holistic approach to policy development. More →
Expert Briefing: Planning law, levelling-up, and net zero
07 July 2023
Policy Briefing by Dr Samuel Ruiz-Tagle on Planning Law, Levelling-up and Net Zero: Empowering planning authorities to combat climate change More →
CCE 2023 Summer Internship Programme
25 April 2023
The Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) at Hughes Hall is pleased to announce its summer internship programme, which offers several exciting opportunities to engage with our programmes and activities. More →
The UK Net Zero Review
27 January 2023
The Government’s Net Zero Review explains the economic benefits of reaching net zero and recommends key policies that would help the UK meet this goal. This summary outlines these opportunities and recommendations, and how they are relevant to non-executive directors… More →
COP27 Explained by Cambridge experts
28 November 2022
In this recent University of Cambridge video that hears from experts about the outcomes of COP27, Emily Farnworth, Director – Centre for Climate Engagement, highlights how our recent Law and Climate Atlas project is helping boards in the UK More →
Why Locally Determined Contributions are integral to achieving national climate commitments
09 November 2022
At COP26 in Glasgow, national governments committed to revisit their Nationally Determined Contributions the following year. With COP27 underway, Emily Farnworth, Director of the Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, sets out the opportunity for locally determined climate action to support the national agenda. More →
Locally Determined Contributions
07 November 2022
This briefing note aims to explain the role and purpose of locally determined contributions (LDCs) in helping to deliver upon national climate change targets by taking action at a local level. The briefing is aimed at a range of stakeholders who may be involved in developing and delivering LDCs including local and regional authorities, local policymakers, academic and independent experts. More →
Local priorities for investing in resilient and sustainable infrastructure
02 September 2022
A recent study by the Cambridge Zero Policy Forum (CZPF) makes clear recommendations to policymakers, organisations and academic experts to enable sustainable and resilient local infrastructure projects. Emily Farnworth, Director of the Centre for Climate Engagement, and Co-Chair of the CZPF, reflects on the importance of a local response to global challenges. More →
IPCC April 2022: Mitigation of Climate Change
04 April 2022
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s April 2022 report explains that limiting warming to 1.5C will require global emissions to peak before 2025 and that many pathways to 2C of warming will also require this, but this will not happen under current policies. The world needs to take drastic action to maintain a stable, liveable climate. This summary highlights the main points in the IPCC report, and what it means for non-executive directors. More →
IPCC February 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
20 February 2022
The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report concludes that the impacts of climate change are severe, but that humanity can still avoid many of them if it seizes “a brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity”. This summary highlights the main points in the IPCC report, and what it means for non-executive directors More →
Greenhouse Gas Removal Briefing Paper
20 December 2021
It is possible to capture greenhouse gases from the atmosphere and store them in various natural or artificial reservoirs. This briefing examines the removal solutions available, their market readiness, options for application, and key considerations for business and policy. More →
COP26 Briefing
22 November 2021
This briefing summarises the key climate trends and announcements of most importance for non-executive directors and industry leaders reflecting on the UN COP26 negotiations and related events in Glasgow from 31 October – 13 November 2021. More →
Business climate action in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough
18 November 2021
Insights from a panel discussion on 29th October 2021, co-hosted by the Centre for Climate Engagement and the Institute of Directors (IoD) East of England to raise awareness amongst local business leaders of recommendations within the first full report from the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Independent Commission on Climate (CPICC). More →
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