Recommendation 35

The Government should set out its public participation approach for the Seventh Carbon Budget as a clear, resourced programme within the Seventh Carbon Budget Delivery Plan. This should focus on engagement, rather than just communications, and should: 64 • embed ongoing, two-way engagement, including deliberative processes at a national and local level, with transparent feedback loops showing how public input has shaped decisions; • use trusted messengers and independent advice, supporting local authorities, community organisations and industry practitioners to engage communities and guide households through key decisions, particularly on home upgrades; • ensure communications and policy are mutually reinforcing, with consistent cross-government messaging on the practical choices people are being asked to make; and • frame engagement around tangible co-benefits and fairness, including warmer homes, lower bills, cleaner air and improved health, while being clear about costs, constraints and the consequences of inaction. (Recommendation, Paragraph 138)