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
Policy briefing for Chapter Zero’s network of UK Board Directors
20 March 2025
As a knowledge partner for Chapter Zero, the Centre for Climate Engagement prepared a briefing to highlight the key developments in UK climate policy from January to March 2025, with relevance for non-executive directors (NEDs). This briefing, and the corresponding Deep Dive resource exploring some of these policy areas in more detail, are part of CCE’s ongoing series of policy content with Chapter Zero. More →
CCE responds to UN Consultation on a Fossil Fuel-based Economy and Human Rights
19 March 2025
The CCE at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, has submitted a response to a consultation launched by the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) on a Fossil Fuel-based Economy and Human Rights. More →
CCE responds to HM Treasury’s UK Green Taxonomies Consultation
05 March 2025
The Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, has submitted a response to HM Treasury’s UK Green Taxonomy Consultation, drawing on its expertise in climate law and governance. Authored by Nick Scott and Sofie Surraco, the response provides insights on the taxonomy’s role in supporting a sustainable financial system More →
Expert Insight: Greenhouse Gas Removals
30 January 2025
Greenhouse gas removal (GGR) is an essential part of achieving global climate goals, complementing emissions reduction to limit warming and build climate resilience. This Expert Insight explores the role of GGR in the net zero transition, the different solutions available… More →
News: Law and Climate Atlas marks milestone of 15k views with UK and US expansion
23 January 2025
The Law and Climate Atlas is a guide to the evolving relationship between law and climate action. This free and comprehensive digital resource maps how various areas of law in the UK and the US are shaping—and being shaped by—climate… More →
Blog: As international progress stalls once again, looking locally offers promise
12 December 2024
COP29 has faced significant criticism for its failure to deliver progress that matches the urgency and scale of the climate crisis. As global negotiations continue to fall short, Senior Researcher Dr Karen Barrass explores the vital role and implications of local climate action in this blog. More →
Video: New groundbreaking lecture featuring Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization
22 November 2024
On 19 July 2024, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, delivered the third University of Cambridge Lecture on Globalisation, Sustainability, and the Power of Ideas. She was joined by Sir Laurie Bristow, Hughes Hall President, alongside scholars from across the University including Dr Jellie Molino, Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Climate Engagement, based at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge. More →
Policy briefing for board directors: post-Budget update
20 November 2024
As a knowledge partner of Chapter Zero, the Centre for Climate Engagement has written a briefing for board directors highlighting key climate policy updates from October and November 2024, including the UK International Investment Summit, Autumn Budget, COP29, and the Chancellor’s Mansion House speech. More →
Policy briefing: CCE partners with the Cambridge Zero Policy Forum to launch economic policy report
24 October 2024
As a partner of the Cambridge Zero Policy Forum, the Centre for Climate Engagement is pleased to support the launch of a new report: Is reaching net zero a growth and prosperity plan? Economics, tools and actions for a rapidly changing world. With a focus on the fundamental importance of policy in activating the green transition, the report explores how the UK’s current models for economic growth and development can, and must, be transformed to ensure the delivery of a competitive and coordinated green investment strategy. More →
Jessica Crow joins the Centre for Climate Engagement as new Hoffmann Fellow
14 August 2024
The Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) at Hughes Hall is delighted to announce the appointment of Jessica Crow as the incoming Cambridge Hoffmann Fellow in Global Climate Governance, with the World Economic Forum and Hughes Hall. More →
Video: New groundbreaking lecture featuring Dr Ngozi Okonjo- Iweala, Director General of the World Trade Organization
05 August 2024
On 19 July 2024, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, delivered the third University of Cambridge Lecture on Globalisation, Sustainability, and the Power of Ideas. She was joined by Sir Laurie Bristow, Hughes Hall President, alongside scholars from across the University including Dr Jellie Molino, Post-Doctoral Research Associate at the Centre for Climate Engagement, based at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge. More →
Policy Insight: CCE releases policy briefing following UK General Election
16 July 2024
As a knowledge partner for Chapter Zero in the UK, the Centre for Climate Engagement has prepared a briefing for board directors on the new government’s climate policies. The briefing explores some of the Labour Party’s key climate policy commitments according to its 2024 Manifesto and potential implications for corporate boards and net zero transition planning. More →
Consultation Response: OHCHR Call for Input – Climate Change and the Right to Education for Girls
24 June 2024
The Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recently issued a call for input to prepare a report on how climate change impacts the realization of the right to education for girls. Our response was written by Léa Weimann, a PhD student from the University of Cambridge Faculty of Law and Sofie Surraco from the CCE, with review support provided by the Global Pact Coalition. More →
News: Academy of Social Sciences publishes CCE ‘Empowering Communities’ blog
13 June 2024
The Academy of Social Science (ACSS) has been running an Election 24 project which foregrounds social science perspectives on key policy issues ahead of this year’s UK General Election. This recently featured a blog written by Senior Researcher, Sophy Bristow, on Empowering communities: the importance of local action in the transition to net zero. More →
Press release: Call out for expert collaborators for local net zero project
25 April 2024
The Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE), based at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, is seeking expert collaborators to contribute to a local net zero project funded by Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme. Experts working in research and industry on… More →
Expert Briefing: Digitalisation and climate risk
05 March 2024
This briefing, with Dr Daoping Wang, explores how digital technologies can help to understand and mitigate climate risk. More →
Press release: Cambridge climate centre to create an investment framework to help local authorities to achieve their climate goals
16 January 2024
The Centre for Climate Engagement (CCE) based at Hughes Hall, University of Cambridge, has announced plans to collaborate with partners across Cambridgeshire on a project to develop a framework supporting local authorities to achieve net zero in a way that aligns with national-level greenhouse gas accounting protocols. The project has been awarded funding under the Innovate UK’s ‘Net Zero Living Programme.’ More →
Policy Insight: the Levelling-up and Regeneration Act 2023
04 December 2023
Dr Samuel Ruiz-Tagle, Research By-Fellow at Hughes Hall and Senior Researcher in Law at the Centre for Climate Engagement, worked in partnership with independent cross-party parliamentary group Peers for the Planet to propose amendments to the then Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill. These amendments aimed to empower local authorities to deliver climate action. More →
Video: Professor Robert Eccles on the Politicisation of ESG
10 November 2023
The Centre had the honour of hosting Professor Robert Eccles and welcoming over 100 academics, practitioners, and students in attendance for a public lecture on the politicisation of ESG. More →
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 →
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