Knowledge.
Hub
Our Knowledge Hub.
The Creating Sustainable Cities Knowledge Hub has been set up to help share information and insights into the common challenges faced by urban landscapes to become more sustainable and highlight replicable solutions, innovations and best practices that can help overcome these challenges.
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Members will receive copies of our latest publications direct to their inbox, including new research and member briefings on topics ranging from decarbonisation and urban greening, to sustainable finance and exciting funding opportunities.
You can download an example Creating Sustainable Cities publication - 'The (Many) Benefits of Urban Greening' - here. It has been downloaded over 5,000 times since it was first published.
Insights Series
Our first Insights Series - 'The State of Net Zero' - explores the current state of net zero delivery in England and sets out to identify how we can mobilise private capital across the two-tier local government structure and devolving regions. The aim of the series is to highlight the urgent need for central government to shift its focus around strategic funding programmes for net zero delivery, which has created a near complete dependence on public grants to fund local decarbonisation efforts - instead we need funding models that build capabilities, skills and resources for local authorities to attract private capital and collaborate with private investors, lenders and financial institutions to fund the transition.
Part 1: June 2025
The first State of Net Zero Report explores an emerging regional disparity in strategic net zero funding offered by central government. We analysed 6 key strategic funds, totalling £1.77 billion and found that local authorities in the East of England and South East are missing out on funding compared to other regions.
Part 2: August 2025
Our second publication is based on insights from representatives from 40 local authorities obtained between February 2024 and June 2025 through the Innovate UK funded 'Shift to Net Zero' project. It concludes that future funding focus must be on building capabilities, skills and resources to mobilise private capital.
Part 3: Coming Autumn 2025
Our third publication is due this Autumn and will undertake a high level overview about how much private finance has been actively unlocked through some key government backed R&D programmes, for example, Innovate UK's Net Zero Living programme that have been designed specifically to help unlock private finance.
