Local Zero

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 the implications – environmental, economic, and cultural?

Jen and Matt explore causes and impacts of water scarcity, with Laura Major, Research Fellow and anthropologist and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at the University of Strathclyde, and Ellie Willmott, Principal Hydrologist in the Water Resources Unit at the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA).

Links:

Dr Laura Major – staff profile

Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA)

SEPA water scarcity levels tool

Taps Aff project – share your experiences of water scarcity

Drouthy Days: is Scotland prepared for drought? – report from the Scottish Parliament Information Centre

Decentralised Water Technologies project

Some past Local Zero episodes on related themes:

Episode 76: Water, water... everywhere? with Hugo Tagholm

Episode 74: How can our gardens protect the environment? with Kate Bradbury

You can also find links and transcripts to all past episodes at the Local Zero podcast website.

What is good practice for setting up and operating community benefit funds? And how do we make sure communities really do properly benefit from renewable energy (and other) projects?

In this episode, Fraser gets the low-down from Matt and Jen on a new framework from the Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities that explores exactly these questions.

The framework is called "Guiding Principles and Actions for Enhancing Community Benefits from Community Benefit Funds".

Links:

Download the framework itself - Guiding Principles and Actions for Enhancing Community Benefits from Community Benefit Funds.

Some past Local Zero episodes on connecting themes:

Episode 93 – Community benefit funds – what does success look like?

Episode 46 – Community benefit from offshore wind

Episode 68 – Carbon Offsetting For Communities 2 - Framing, evaluating and facilitating community benefit from nature-based carbon offsets

You can also find links and transcripts to all past episodes at the Local Zero podcast website.

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 mitigation? What could adaptation look like in practical terms? How do we measure success? What are some of the challenges to effective adaptation – and what kind of benefits could arise from it?

But first, the episode kicks off with Matt and Jen exchanging wildlife sightings and nature observations – some unsettling, some exciting.

Links:

Local Zero podcast: https://www.localzeropod.com/

Dr Emma Yule: https://edinburghcentre.org/team/emma-yule

Progress in adapting to climate change: 2025 report to Parliament: https://www.theccc.org.uk/publication/progress-in-adapting-to-climate-change-2025/

Episode 37 – Decarbonising infrastructure: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/decarbonising-infrastructure

Scottish National Adaptation Plan 2024-2029: https://www.gov.scot/publications/scottish-national-adaptation-plan-2024-2029-2/

UK Government Third National Adaptation Programme: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/third-national-adaptation-programme-nap3

How can local authorities collaborate with community energy groups to deliver a just transition? To explore this question, Fraser and Jen – making their co-hosting debut – are joined by Ellie Radcliffe, Project Manager at Carbon Co-op, and Charlotte Norton, Associate Director at The Carbon Trust.

The conversation focuses on the Innovate UK-funded Net Zero Living programme, which aims to help local authorities accelerate the transition to net zero.

Links:

Local Zero podcast: https://www.localzeropod.com/

Carbon Co-op: https://carbon.coop/

Carbon Trust: https://www.carbontrust.com/

Net Zero Living programme: https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/programme/net-zero-living/

Episode 12 – Community energy: power to the people: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/12-community-energy-power-to-the-people

Episode 35 – How to kick-start community energy?: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/community-energy

Episode 70 – Putting the "us" in energy justice: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/putting-the-us-in-energy-justice?rq=70

Episode 105 – The Local Power Plan and community energy: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/105-the-local-power-plan-and-community-energy-with-energy-minister-michael-shanks-mp

This is a full recording of the event "The Local Power Plan: Powering a community energy revolution in Scotland?", hosted by the Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities and the British Institute of Energy Economics (BIEE).

The event featured a keynote speech from Michael Shanks, Under-Secretary of State at the UK government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and a lively panel discussion between Minister Shanks, Professor Keith Bell from Strathclyde University, Claire Mack, CEO of Scottish Renewables, and Zoe Holliday, CEO of Community Energy Scotland.

You'll also hear some reflections from attendees, recorded after the event.

Links:

Michael Shanks MP: https://www.gov.uk/government/people/michael-shanks

Professor Keith Bell: https://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/bellkeithprof/

Scottish Renewables: https://www.scottishrenewables.com/

Community Energy Scotland: https://communityenergyscotland.org.uk/

GB Energy Founding Statement: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/introducing-great-british-energy/great-british-energy-founding-statement

Episode 102 – Shared ownership of clean energy projects: what, how and why?: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/102-shared-ownership-of-clean-energy-projects-what-how-and-why

https://www.localzeropod.com/

Matt and Fraser discuss some of the highlights from our event at Strathclyde Business School, "The Local Power Plan: Powering a community energy revolution in Scotland?", hosted by the Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities and the British Institute of Energy Economics (BIEE).

The event featured a keynote speech from Michael Shanks, Under-Secretary of State at the UK government Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and a lively panel discussion between Minister Shanks, Professor Keith Bell from Strathclyde University, Claire Mack, CEO of Scottish Renewables, and Zoe Holliday, CEO of Community Energy Scotland.

Links:

https://www.localzeropod.com/

Professor Keith Bell profile: https://www.strath.ac.uk/staff/bellkeithprof/

Scottish Renewables: https://www.scottishrenewables.com/

Community Energy Scotland: https://communityenergyscotland.org.uk/

Episode 102 – Shared ownership of clean energy projects: what, how and why?: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/102-shared-ownership-of-clean-energy-projects-what-how-and-why

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 implications is Tom Butterworth, Nature Lead at ARUP for the UK, India, the Middle East and Africa.

Onward links:

Episode 74 with nature writer and journalist Kate Bradbury: how can our gardens protect the environment?: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/74-how-can-our-gardens-protect-the-environment

UK Government guidance on Biodiversity Net Gain: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/understanding-biodiversity-net-gain

Local Zero is produced and edited by Katie Revell at Bespoken Media podcasts

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. Plus: there’s exciting news on the future of the podcast.

Links:

https://www.localzeropod.com/

Episode 76 – Water, water... everywhere?: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/76-water-watereverywhere

Strathclyde Institute for Sustainable Communities: https://www.strath.ac.uk/business/huntercentreforentrepreneurship/sisc/

Surfers against Sewage: https://www.sas.org.uk/

Episode 97 – Election special with Sir John Curtice and Daisy Powell-Chandler: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/97-election-special-with-sir-john-curtice-and-daisy-powell-chandler

Episode 101 – What to expect from COP29, following Trump’s victory?: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/101-what-to-expect-from-cop29-following-trumps-victory

Episode 102 – Shared ownership of clean energy projects: what, how and why?: https://www.localzeropod.com/episodes/102-shared-ownership-of-clean-energy-projects-what-how-and-why

What is shared ownership of energy? What opportunities and challenges does it present, both for communities and private companies? And how might it help accelerate the transition to net zero?

Fraser and Matt are joined by Jake Burnyeat, Director of Communities for Renewables CIC, and Jessica Hogan, Energy Analyst at Regen, to discuss Regen's new report, "Sharing Power: Unlocking shared ownership for a fast and fair net zero transition".

Links:

https://www.regen.co.uk/publications/sharing-power-unlocking-shared-ownership-for-a-fast-and-fair-net-zero-transition/

https://cfrcic.co.uk/

https://www.localzeropod.com/

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 Sindico, Professor of International Environmental Law at the University of Strathclyde Law School and Director of the Climate Change Legal Initiative.

Relevant links:

https://www.wri.org/insights/cop29-climate-summit-what-to-expect

https://www.localzeropod.com