Local Zero
Episodes
Bye for now: a message from team Local Zero
05 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
After 113 episodes, reaching 35,000 unique listeners, in 150 countries - the award-winning Local Zero podcast is having to say 'bye for now'.Sadly, we...
The UK Co-Benefits Atlas: mapping the positive side-effects of reaching net zero
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Fraser explore the UK Co-Benefits Atlas, a new, interactive platform for communicating the co-benefits of reaching net zero across the U...
Van dwelling versus #vanlife: the reality of life on the road
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Fraser hit the road to explore the reality of "van life", going beyond the glossy image often presented on social media. To what extent ...
Climate change and infrastructures of care
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What does it mean to respond to climate change with care? And how might we do a better job of caring for the environment, for each other, and for...
Adapting our homes and communities to a changing climate
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to climate change in our homes and neighbourhoods, much of the focus has so far been on mitigation – reducing our greenhouse gas emiss...
Water scarcity: a growing problem
30 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The UK isn't exactly famous for its dry, sunny weather – and yet, water scarcity is an increasingly widespread and urgent problem. Why? And what are...
Community benefit funds: how can we enhance their impact?
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What is good practice for setting up and operating community benefit funds? And how do we make sure communities really do properly benefit from renewa...
Climate change adaptation: a primer
01 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Jen are joined by researcher Dr Emma Yule for a comprehensive primer on climate change adaptation. What is it, and how does it interact with ...
Local authorities, community energy and a just transition
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How can local authorities collaborate with community energy groups to deliver a just transition? To explore this question, Fraser and Jen – making t...
The Local Power Plan and community energy - with Energy Minister Michael Shanks: FULL EVENT RECORDING
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This is a full recording of the event "The Local Power Plan: Powering a community energy revolution in Scotland?", hosted by the Strathclyde Inst...
The Local Power Plan and community energy - with Energy Minister Michael Shanks MP
23 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Fraser discuss some of the highlights from our event at Strathclyde Business School, "The Local Power Plan: Powering a community energy ...
Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG): Arup's Tom Butterworth
27 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We're all familiar with the concept of Net Zero – but what about Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG)? Joining Matt and Jen to explain BNG and its impli...
A new year for climate action: looking back at 2024 and ahead to 2025
27 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As we start the new year, Matt and Jen reflect on the highs and lows of 2024, and share their hopes and expectations – and a few fears – for 2025....
Shared ownership of clean energy projects: what, how and why?
11 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What is shared ownership of energy? What opportunities and challenges does it present, both for communities and private companies? And how might it he...
What to expect from COP29, following Trump’s victory?
06 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining Matt and Jen for a look-ahead to COP29 are Dr Simon Evans, Deputy Editor and Senior Policy Editor at Carbon Brief, and Professor Francesco Sin...
Episode 100 - four years of Local Zero
23 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
It's a landmark episode! Somehow, this is the 100th episode of Local Zero. A big thanks to our listeners, guests, and supporters, without whom, we def...
Waste not, want not: top tips to tackle household food waste
02 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After the unveiling of a new co-host (!!!), and some discussion about recent visits to Orkney and Ayrshire, we are joined on the pod by Laura Young (@...
A new dawn for net zero? A forward look at Labour’s plan for government
28 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Fraser return after a (washout) summer to share their expectations, hopes and any potential concerns about the new Labour government's Net Ze...
Election Special with Sir John Curtice and Daisy Powell-Chandler
26 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The long-awaited 2024 General Election is just around the corner - but how important will climate change be in the context of voting intention? Joinin...
Food and farming in a net-zero Scotland
12 Jun 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How do agriculture and food production affect climate change and biodiversity, and can we fully decarbonise this industry? Becky, Fraser and Matt are ...
SPECIAL EPISODE: Launch of the Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities
29 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matt is joined by Dr Jen Roberts as they share the launch of their brand new institute - the Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities, or SIS...
Waste not, want not: leasing, fixing and borrowing to reduce consumption
15 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How to reduce consumption and cut waste, with a focus on re-use and sharing. Joining the Local Zero team are Samantha Moir from Zero Waste Scotland, a...
Community Benefit Funds - what does success look like?
01 May 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Becky return from their Easter breaks to welcome Rachel Searle, Head of Communities and Impact at Foundation Scotland, and Fiona Smith, chair...
Harnessing the Power of Open Data
27 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Fraser and Becky (& Becky's dog Kaya!) are joined by Angus Paterson, Electric Vehicles Strategy Senior Officer at Essex County Council, and Joe As...
Greener Better Living: Finance for the Future
13 Mar 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Living Places is a social enterprise focused on funding and delivery of community focused, place-based models for a just net zero transition. Bec...
The Fuel Poverty Research Network: Understanding Fuel Poverty
28 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What can we do to tackle fuel poverty more effectively?A busy episode of Local Zero as Matt, Becky and Fraser are joined by Dr Nicola Willand from RMI...
Citizens assemble: participatory approaches for climate action
14 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
After catching up on professional and personal news, Matt, Becky and Fraser welcome Rachel Coxcoon to the pod. Rachel, a former councillor and founder...
Every Tree Tells a Story
01 Feb 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Matt has very exciting news to share before he and Becky welcome James Bonner from Every Tree Tells a Story to discuss his work. https://everytree.uk/
Origami Activism - Paperboats, The Arts, and Local Climate Action
24 Jan 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Joining Becky and Fraser for the first episode of 2024 are Scotland's Makar (National Poet) Kathleen Jamie, and writer Sandy Winterbottom, who talk to...
2023 Wrapped: Local Zero's Festive Review of the Year
17 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Somehow it's that time of the year once again! Becky, Matt and Fraser break down the highlights and lowlights of the year, are joined by Patrick from ...
Is your local council a climate leader?
06 Dec 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In January this year, Hannah Jewell, then of Climate Emergency UK, joined us to discuss their Council Climate Plan scorecards. Months later, the resul...
Countdown to the UK General Election - full panel discussion
27 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Recently, we brought you edited highlights from a live panel discussion held in Edinburgh, entitled Countdown to the General Election: Scotland’s ne...
The Ashden Awards: celebrating local and sustainable energy
22 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Fraser welcome Nick Lyth, Founder of Green Angel Ventures, and Stephen Hall, Head of Awards at Ashden. The Ashden Awards are given to organis...
Countdown to the UK General Election: next steps for net-zero
08 Nov 2023
Contributed by Lukas
A different episode format for you this time round - Matt and Fraser dissect the key highlights from a recent live panel discussion in Edinburgh, titl...
Swaffham Prior: Lessons from the UK's first rural heat network
25 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2022, Swaffham Prior, a village in East Cambridgeshire, became the first village to develop a rural heat network. Before welcoming Emma Flether, wh...
Making our homes smarter and fairer
17 Oct 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Fraser is back, just in time to discuss the recent party conferences - before the team welcome Rachel Mills from Citizens Advice, and Mairi Brookes fr...
Low-carbon islands
27 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In 2021, Scottish Government committed to making four Scottish Islands Carbon Neutral by 2040. This was increased to six islands following COP26. The ...
All Aboard the Glasgow Bike Bus
19 Sep 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Becky reveal some very exciting news from the Local Zero team (!) before discussing the logistics of the school commute - and then welcome Ca...
2023 so far - a stock take on the UK’s climate ambitions
16 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How is it August already?!... As the summer holidays come to an end, Matt, Becky and Fraser are joined by Local Zero icon Dr Jeff Hardy to discuss bot...
Hugo Tagholm: Water, water... everywhere?
02 Aug 2023
Contributed by Lukas
We can’t live without water, but who controls the supply, and who looks after it, has been a highly debated and contentious issue in the UK, particu...
Rights Community Action
26 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Why is place-based work so important?For the 75th (!) episode of Local Zero, Becky and a rain-battered Fraser are joined by Naomi Luhde-Thompson, lea...
How can our gardens protect the environment?
12 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How can we utilise our garden spaces, balconies, window boxes and/or pots to benefit the environment? Matt, Fraser and Becky catch up on all things su...
Carbon Offsetting for Communities 4: Empowerment, Enrichment & Impact
10 Jul 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What actions could usefully be taken to ensure these projects empower and enrich communities?In the fourth and final episode of our Carbon Offsetting ...
Carbon Offsetting for Communities 3: Ownership, Governance and Finance
29 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How are these carbon offsetting schemes financed and governed, and who actually owns these projects?The third and penultimate episode in our Community...
Decarbonising the UK music industry
21 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
The UK music industry contributes billions of pounds to the economy every year, but just how carbon intensive is streaming and touring? Becky and Matt...
Putting the "us" in energy justice
09 Jun 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Becky and Fraser double as both co-hosts AND expert guests this time - updating Matt on a major local and community energy project they've been runnin...
Whole person, whole place - social relations and energy retrofit
24 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do our social relations with other people and places influence decisions about domestic energy retrofit?Becky and Matt reunite at the University o...
Carbon Offsetting for Communities 2: Framing, evaluating and facilitating community benefit from nature-based carbon offsets
22 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How do we frame, evaluate and facilitate community benefit from voluntary nature-based carbon offset projects?The second episode from our Community Ca...
Carbon Offsetting for Communities 1: Rekindling Community with Alastair McIntosh
17 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
In March, Matt hosted the Community Carbon Offsetting conference at the Unversity of Strathclyde, which formed a fascinating gathering of people to di...
Focus on Edinburgh
10 May 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Edinburgh is both prosperous and wealthy - but also has unique and complex issues to tackle when it comes to reaching their ambitious Net Zero targets...
Energy networks and smart local systems
27 Apr 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What role do energy network operators - or DNOs - have in developing smart local energy systems? Becky - along with guest co-host Dr Jeff Hardy - lead...
Live: Energy-smart places and a just transition
23 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
What is the role of energy-smart places and smart local energy approaches in securing a just transition? In this Local Zero Live, recorded at EnergyRE...
Introducing... Dr Fraser Stewart (pending a viva)
09 Mar 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Fraser has finally completed his PhD ... but what was it about? This episode is dedicated to the themes of Fraser's thesis, exploring social inequalit...
Prospering From the Energy Revolution 4: Impact and Engagement
23 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
Concluding our four-part mini-series focusing on the work of Innovate UK's Prospering From the Energy Revolution (PFER) Programme, Matt and Fraser cha...
Prospering from the Energy Revolution 3: Skills and Supply Chain
16 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This penultimate instalment of our month-long Prospering from the Energy Revolution (PFER) series focuses on Skills and the Supply Chain. Matt, Becky ...
Prospering From the Energy Revolution 2: Finance
09 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This February, the Local Zero team are bringing you weekly podcasts focused on the work of the Prospering from the Energy Revolution (PFER) funding in...
Prospering From the Energy Revolution 1: Policy and Regulation
02 Feb 2023
Contributed by Lukas
This February, the Local Zero team are bringing you a new podcast every single week! These special episodes are all focused on the work of the Prosper...
Rate my council: Climate Emergency UK's Climate Action Scorecards
19 Jan 2023
Contributed by Lukas
How well do our local councils perform when it comes to tackling the climate crisis? One not-for-profit organisation - Climate Emergency UK - makes it...
2022 wrapped: Local Zero's festive review of the year
22 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Joining the usual team for a look back at 2022 in energy (with festive drinks and mince pies in hand) are Strathclyde University's Dr Jen Roberts and ...
Corporates and communities: how renewable energy funds community assets
08 Dec 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How are communities benefitting financially from commercial suppliers paying them for playing host to wind farms? Matt chats to Ian Leaver, Chief Offi...
Scottish Power's role as a decarbonising leader
25 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Scottish Power's Robin Cathcart and Owen Black on the company's role in helping Scotland and the UK to decarbonise. Scottish Power is part of the Iber...
Our World in Data with Dr Hannah Ritchie
22 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are there reasons to be cheerful about climate change? What are the most data-driven changes we can make to really move the dial on carbon emissions? ...
COP26 and Glasgow: one year on
10 Nov 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A year since Glasgow hosted COP26, the team reflect on the event's legacy for the city, and particularly for Strathclyde University. Matt, Becky and F...
Professor Jim Skea on Net Zero and the just transition
27 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ahead of COP 27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Matt and Becky are joined by Professor Jim Skea, Co-Chair of Working Group III of the IPCC (Intergovernmental Pane...
Crisis averted? Government response to fuel poverty and soaring bills
14 Oct 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the energy crisis showing no signs of slowing, and UK government policy changing and changing again seemingly by the hour, we return to the press...
Can a smart-meter change your life?
29 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Can a smart-meter really change your life? This is the fiftieth full-length episode of Local Zero - Matt, Becky and Fraser reflect on being half ...
The future of smarter, more local energy systems - Local Zero live from EnergyREV's 2022 summit
20 Sep 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Recorded at EnergyREV's central London summit on smart local energy, the team explore what a smarter, more local energy system might look like, and ho...
Disability and the energy crisis
29 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Disabled people and their households are among those most likely to be impacted by the energy crisis and associated rise in living costs. Until now, i...
Power for People: Lobbying and Local Electricity
03 Aug 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The Local Electricity Bill could - if enacted - open up local supply of electricity to nearby communities. Supporters claim it could bring to market s...
Community benefit from offshore wind
07 Jul 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The UK Government has committed to installing 50GW of offshore wind energy by 2030. What are the impacts of offshore wind on communities, and how can...
The carbon cost of holiday flights
23 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As many of us gear up for a summer break, often jetting off to the sun, just how culpable are flight emissions in the context of the climate emergency...
Shifting and flexing home energy demand
09 Jun 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How can we shift our demand for energy in the home, perhaps by shaping and flexing our domestic routines to match periods of peak 'clean' energy produ...
Energy Demand and Net Zero
26 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
What is the impact of our own behaviours and attitudes, as households and consumers, on carbon emissions? The latest IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on ...
The rise of Scotland's 'Green Lairds' - with Magnus Davidson
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The phenomenon of so-called 'Green Lairds' buying up land for carbon offsetting is increasingly a phenomenon that Scotland is having to reckon with. M...
Green Lairds and the great carbon offset: Edinburgh University/BIEE panel event
13 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How to reconcile natural capital, net-zero and just transition priorities? In this unedited recording, an expert panel discuss the trends for large-sc...
Micro grid energy and community cohousing
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Making homes both more sustainable and more affordable: these are two of the most pressing challenges facing society today. In this episode, the team ...
Energy advocacy services in a time of crisis
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the energy crisis bites and price cap rises against a backdrop of climate change, energy advocacy services are becoming crucial to supporting peopl...
Co-benefits of local climate action
31 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Climate action can deliver a huge variety of co-benefits, alongside carbon reduction: improving health from active travel, reducing fuel poverty throu...
Decarbonising infrastructure
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Cutting carbon from future infrastructure projects is a massive and costly long-term challenge. It is also a critical part of the path to net zero. So...
The cost of Net Zero
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Radical changes are needed to our infrastructure if we want to deliver a Just Energy Transition and meet our net-zero goals. But it’s not that simpl...
How to kick-start community energy?
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Community-led energy projects offer a way forward as energy bills spiral and carbon emissions need to be cut. However, community energy in the UK is s...
Focus on Aberdeen: the UK oil capital's just transition
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Aberdeen has been the epicentre of UK oil and gas - and prospered as a result - since the 1970s. How can a community so steeped in fossil fuels engage...
2022: the year of local climate action?
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As concern grows over spiking energy bills and its impact on poorer households, what challenges lie ahead for net-zero and a just transition? As ever,...
2021 Wrapped
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
We managed an actual face-to-face catch-up in Fraser's flat! (squeezed in before the ramping up of COVID-19 measures). There *may* have been alcohol, ...
Was COP26 a success or failure? With Prof David Reay
02 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Prof David Reay, director of the Edinburgh Climate Change Institute, gives his verdict on COP26. The commitment to 1.5 degrees of warming is, he says,...
COP26 team debrief
18 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Post COP26, an extremely tired Local Zero team gather their initial thoughts and responses. We return to fortnightly Local Zero episodes, every other ...
COP26: Becky and Matt's long overdue catch up
14 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt and Becky finally manage a catch-up, swapping stories and insights from their experiences of COP26. Matt also visits Sunny G community radio in G...
COP26: Matt in the Blue Zone
12 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
In the COP26 Blue Zone, Matt reflects on global uptake of electric vehicles, bumps into California Democrat Congressional candidate Shrina Kurani, and...
COP26: Sustainability in Glasgow with Gavin Slater
11 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At COP26, Becky and Matt chat with Gavin Slater, Glasgow City Council's Head of Sustainability. Gavin outlines action being taken to reach net zero go...
COP26: Becky’s Bicycle Diaries
10 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Becky joins the Moving for Climate NOW Bike Ride, cycling across Scotland and into Glasgow. Becky talks to the other cyclists about turning targets in...
COP26: Is 'net zero' an accounting trick?
09 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
On his first visit to the COP26 Blue Zone, Matt narrowly misses Barack Obama, hears warnings that carbon offsetting is merely 'an accounting trick', a...
Live at COP26: Delivering a just transition
07 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What does a just transition to net zero look like and how can it be delivered? Our #LocalZeroLive COP26 panel show, recorded with a capacity audience ...
COP26: "This is our fight" - Fraser shares a stage with Greta Thunberg
06 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Fraser Stewart reflects on sharing a stage with Greta Thunberg, Vanessa Nakate and indigenous peoples from around the world - after giving a climate j...
COP26: Snapshots from Friday's youth march
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
COP26 day 6 saw thousands of young people marching through the streets of Glasgow - with Becky, Matt, and Matt's family all among them.
COP26 Energy Day: How bad are bananas?
05 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Becky hits the Green Zone and plays 'How Bad Are Bananas?' Matt is talking heat innovation and geoenergy at a showcase run jointly by the Scottish Gov...
COP26 Finance Day: First impressions and PlanetPod's Amanda Carpenter
04 Nov 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matt's first foray into COP26 was into the Green Zone on Finance Day. This mini-episode gives a flavour of talks he attended, and the atmosphere aroun...
COP26: what we're doing when
31 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
COP26 is here! We look ahead to a whirlwind two weeks, get excited, and sketch out plans. Sign up now if you want to be at Local Zero Live on Saturday...
Leo Hickman: COP26 hopes and fears
20 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Leo Hickman of the Carbon Brief looks ahead to COP26. We also invite back a selection of guests from across Local Zero's first year, to hear their hop...
Energy Crisis and Beyond
06 Oct 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Concern over energy prices has dominated headlines in recent weeks - but what does the energy 'crisis' mean for consumers, communities and the road to...
Jobs, skills and training for zero-carbon homes
22 Sep 2021
Contributed by Lukas
What jobs, skills and training are needed to deliver smart zero-carbon home heating? How big is the skills-gap? (Spoiler: It's quite big). Matt and Be...