Data and digital tools are vital to delivery of place-based net zero

Digital tools are essential to successful delivery of net zero both nationally and at a local level. Mott MacDonald fellow and global cities lead, Clare Wildfire, takes a look at how understanding of digital tools best practice has evolved since the publication of the Net Zero Infrastructure Industry Coalition’s 2021 report on place-based approaches to net zero.

In the journey to net zero, data and digital platforms have emerged as powerful enablers for cities and regions. These platforms provide the clarity, transparency and accountability needed to plan, deliver and track progress on decarbonisation. By harnessing the power of data, local authorities can make informed decisions, build trust among stakeholders and attract investment.

Since the Net Zero Infrastructure Industry Coalition published A Placed-based approach to net zero five years ago, the UK has seen a transformation in how cities use digital tools to drive climate action, with pioneering examples setting the standard for others to follow.

The role of data in net zero delivery

Early efforts to decarbonise cities focused on understanding where emissions were concentrated and which interventions would have the greatest impact. However, as strategies evolved, the need for more detailed information and analysis became apparent. Today, advanced data platforms support local authorities in identifying key levers, setting trajectories for emissions reductions and monitoring progress over time.

Data platforms enable city departments to come together to map emissions sources and hotspots across all portfolios; model the impact of different pathways with interdependent interventions and track progress against targets as they are set. These insights can then be turned into clear and accessible datasets that are shared across departments and with external stakeholders to help build consensus and streamline decision-making.

Platforms in practice

Glasgow City Council’s Integrated Net Zero Route Map is a leading example of how data platforms can drive climate action. Using the open-source Transition Element Framework, managed through ClimateView’s net zero data analysis and management platform, Glasgow was able to quantify the impact of key interventions across sectors such as transport, buildings, energy and waste. The creation of a “data playbook” broke down silos, standardised data and captured over 95% of monitored emissions, enabling targeted, cost-effective action.

This approach provided a clear visualisation of Glasgow’s decarbonisation journey, identified key stakeholders and highlighted co-benefits such as improved public health and greener urban environments. The Scottish Climate Intelligence Service is adopting this approach across all 32 of Scotland’s local authorities to build decarbonisation consensus and practical action. The model is also being explored in other UK cities.

Another example is the MacKay Carbon Calculator, which is a multi-sectoral model of the UK energy system that allows the public to explore pathways to decarbonisation, including net zero by 2050. Its simplified version – My2050 – is used as an educational resource to help students understand the net zero target through prompting discussions about climate change and energy. These data-led resources enable participants to link possible climate change responses to credible local and individual action.

Building trust and engagement

A benefit to having analysable data is the ability to convert it to evidenced predictions of the future, which can then be presented in ways that stakeholders can understand. Climate change is now largely understood to be a global threat, yet people are often unsure of the role they can play individually or within local communities to stave off its worst impacts. Communicating plausible future scenarios and the choices that create them is a powerful way to help communities see their preferred version of the future in the context of their choices.

Potential investors will also be seeking a strong, stable and long term delivery landscape. An aggregated and trackable dataset on hot spots and tangible solutions at scale will improve their confidence in the project pipeline and increase their ability to package solutions to improve attractiveness of the proposition.

Scaling up and standardisation

Aggregating data across city and regional boundaries supports economies of scale and consistent progress tracking. Consistency in approach across local authorities and within regions brings multiple benefits, from efficiency in unifying language, measurement and progress tracking to streamlining the opportunity to share insights and coordinate on complex messaging to stakeholders. The aggregation of data across regions also allows for future aggregation on a national basis.

The key lessons for other local and regional authorities from the experience seen in cities like Glasgow is to invest in data platforms and use then to build cross-departmental plans and standardise metrics. Engaging with stakeholders and using the data to build trust and drive action is equally as important, plus it can also support regional collaboration, enabling aggregation of data for greater impact. Creating sector-based pathways is another useful tactic as it allows development of time-related targets based on tangible outcomes, enabling accountability and leading indicators for progress. Finally, ensuring consistency is critical as it create the opportunity to standardise approaches across local authorities for efficiency and shared learning.

Data and digital platforms are transforming the landscape of net zero delivery. By leveraging these tools, cities can drive more effective, transparent and accountable climate action. The journey to net zero is complex, but with robust data platforms, local authorities can turn ambition into action, build trust and confidence among stakeholders and attract the investment needed to create sustainable, resilient communities for the future.

This series of thought leadership articles has now addressed and delivered updates to three of the four pillars set out in the NZIIC – powers, partnerships and platforms. The final part of the series will look at the pillar that is critical to bringing all the pillars together: people.