Creating value in net zero pathways
Venue: Guildhall, City of London
Date: Wednesday 29th January 2025
Who should attend: the target audience for the Net Zero Finance Leadership Summit are key-decision makers and leaders across the two-tier local government and local authorities falling outside of large cities and mayoral devolved areas.
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By invite only.
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The Leadership Summit is designed for:
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Chief Executives
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S.151 Officers
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Head of Service / Directors
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Net Zero Leads
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Leaders of the Council
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Elected Members
Leadership Summit
The Net Zero Finance Leadership Summit will take place on Wednesday 29th January 2025 at the Guildhall, City of London. It brings together leaders and key-decision makers from across the two-tier local government structure in England, to build a greater understanding of how they can accelerate the pace, scale and financing of local net zero action.
Innovate UK's 2023 publication, 'Local Net Zero Projects', outlined that over £500 billion was required to deliver local net zero projects and that half of the investment required must come from the private sector. Whilst large cities and mayoral devolved areas have started to mobilise private capital, far larger challenges exist for county, borough, district and unitary councils to unlock the finance that is urgently required to deliver the economic, environmental and social benefits that local net zero programmes can deliver.
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The Leadership Summit will explore current market solutions and the funding mechanisms, commercial models and governance structures that are needed to attract both private and public investment into local net zero and climate action. It asks how can we shift our current approach from looking at the 'costs' of decarbonisation to how can we create 'value' in net zero pathways, and realise the opportunities to establish revenue from energy assets and natural capital.
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The Summit is part of a wider knowledge exchange programme for senior decision-makers across local authorities that are exploring how they can finance their local net zero investment programmes.
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WHAT TO EXPECT
The Leadership Summit brings together cross-sector and cross-industry experts through a series of informative and engaging
sessions for attendees.
Fireside chats
A series of enlightening exchanges between industry experts and thought leaders on the roll of private finance for local net zero action.
PANEL DISCUSSIONS
Hear perspectives from both public and private sectors about how they can work collaboratively to create
value through net zero and natural capital.
INDUSTRY INSIGHTs
A series of in-depth sessions exploring market solutions for local authorities to accelerate the pace, scale and financing of local net zero action.
Why attend?
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Mobilising private investment at scale: Learn about the funding mechanisms, commercial models
and governance structures that are required to mobilise and attract private finance.
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Creating value in local net zero action: Discover how local authorities are creating value with their net zero investments, by establishing 'energy assets' and making the most of their natural capital.
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Understand what private finance will (and won't) fund: Gain a comprehensive understanding of
what private sector investors, lenders and financial institutions are seeking to fund.
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Overcoming common challenges: Engage with other local authorities from within the two-tier local government structure and develop strategies to accelerate the pace, scale and financing of local net zero action.
Who is involved?
Part of Innovate UK's Net Zero Living Programme
‘Shift to Net Zero’ is part of Innovate UK's Pathfinder Places portfolio and has seen ep group and Ibex Earth work in collaboration with Essex County Council, Surrey County Council, Kent County Council and Brighton & Hove City Council since 2022 to identify a new funding mechanism, commercial model and governance structure to accelerate the pace, scale and financing of local net zero action.
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The work has identified in excess of £46 billion worth of local net zero projects across Essex, Surrey, Kent and Brighton & Hove, highlighting the need to mobilise private capital to support their delivery and maximise the economic, social and environmental benefits locally.
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The Net Zero Finance Leadership Summit is a key deliverable from the Innovate UK funded project.
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