Challenge
Cornwall Council and the Isles of Scilly sought to create a local area energy plan (LAEP) to serve as an evidence-based roadmap toward net zero. Key challenges included:
- engaging residents and businesses from the earliest stage of the project on a highly technical and complex topic – local energy systems and climate change
- educating the public – many with limited prior knowledge – to contribute meaningfully to a strategic energy plan
- collecting and synthesising large volumes of qualitative input to shape the LAEP in a credible and inclusive way.
Approach
Copper led a wide-ranging, inclusive engagement process tailored to Cornwall’s unique context and communities.
Key elements included:
- delivering a six-day citizens’ assembly for 43 local residents, combining in-person and online participation, expert speakers and interactive learning, to build energy literacy
- facilitating in-depth discussions to empower residents to co-develop recommendations for the LAEP
- designing and delivering a multichannel communications campaign, including a unique LAEP brand identity and explainer video
- running a county-wide roadshow of events to speak with hundreds of residents, businesses and community groups about Cornwall’s energy future.
Value delivered
- Delivered one of the UK’s most extensive engagement programmes for a LAEP
- Built public understanding and trust around complex climate and energy topics
- Secured broad-based input from more than 40 residents, which directly informed LAEP priorities
- Established a strong foundation of community buy-in for the council’s future energy and climate action
- Created a replicable model for citizen-led climate engagement in local authorities.