Cambridge City Leaders Climate Change Group

Working together to accelerate climate action across Cambridge

No single organisation can deliver Cambridge’s climate ambitions alone. The Cambridge City Leaders Climate Change Group brings organisations across the city together to coordinate action, share expertise and identify opportunities for collaboration towards a net zero, climate-resilient Cambridge.

Established in 2017, the Group has developed from a Cambridge City Council-convened network into a collaborative initiative coordinated by Cambridge City Council, the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL), Cambridge Zero and Cambridgeshire County Council. 

The Group brings together businesses, public-sector organisations and academic institutions based in or operating in Cambridge, creating connections between organisations that can help accelerate change across the city. 

From shared ambition to collective action

The Group provides a forum for organisations to align activity, develop partnerships and identify opportunities for collective action. Its work includes sharing and showcasing good practice, informing policy development and implementation, and identifying opportunities for collaboration and systems-level approaches. 

Over time, the Group has become increasingly action focused. Activity has included work around the Cambridge Carbon Map, research into scaling retrofit, collective input into Cambridge City Council’s Climate Change Strategy, and new pilots and collaborations emerging through connections made at meetings. 

Recent discussions have explored the relationship between Cambridge’s growth, innovation and sustainability, including the role of pilots and testbeds in developing and demonstrating new approaches.

Connecting innovation and city-wide action

CISL’s involvement in City Leaders complements its wider work across Cambridge, including the Living Lab, which brings organisations together to test and scale solutions for a more sustainable built environment.

Practical approaches and learning emerging through the Living Lab can be shared with the wider City Leaders network, helping connect innovation with organisations across Cambridge. Participants in a recent City Leaders meeting were also invited to engage with the Living Lab, including by offering assets for experimentation or contributing expertise.

How to get involved

The Group meets quarterly at CISL’s Entopia Building, bringing together organisations from across Cambridge to hear updates, explore priority issues and initiatives, and build connections. 

Organisations based in or operating in Cambridge can contribute ideas for projects, future topics and speakers, as well as suggest other organisations that could contribute to the Group’s work. 

Get involved

Cambridge is strengthening its position as a leading hub where climate solutions, policy and innovation intersect. The City Leaders Climate Change Group is open to organisations committed to supporting Cambridge’s transition to a net zero, climate resilient future.

To find out more about attending future meetings or to propose a topic for discussion at a meeting email catherine.oakley@cambridge.gov.uk