Making Local Climate Action Possible: our new toolkit

From discomfort to possibility

Shaped by recognising discomfort and being open to possibility, we didn’t shy away from tension during our participatory workshops. Officers told us that engaging businesses can feel transactional. There was a shared recognition that methods such as incentives or compliance-based outreach weren’t building the long-term partnerships required for systemic change. We leaned into that discomfort, exploring what it might look like to lead with purpose, to connect with what truly matters to business leaders, and to approach engagement not as a communications challenge, but as a relationship challenge. Building on these insights, we began to understand what makes engagement feel meaningful and this toolkit is the result: a practical, values-led guide to help local authorities build trust-based connections that make climate action possible.

Why this matters now

We are working in incredibly tough times, but the public mandate for climate action remains strong. People, including businesses, want to do the right thing. What they need is clarity, consistency, and to know that they’re supported to deliver meaningful change. At the heart of this is trust. At The Connectives, cultivating trust is central to our work. We support organisations to lead with values, navigate complexity, and design strategies that drive lasting, values-led impact. For us, this toolkit is about helping local authorities go beyond short-term engagement and start building deeper, more durable partnerships with the business community. Great partnerships are rooted in shared purpose and mutual understanding.

A values-led framework

This toolkit is structured around three core recommendations:

1. demonstrate your purpose 
2. demonstrate your empathy
3. demonstrate your integrity

These principles emerged from Climate Outreach’s research into the qualities of trusted climate communicators. Using this research, we explored how local authorities are seen as credible, relatable, and aligned with the values of their local business stakeholders. By embedding these qualities into engagement practice, local authorities can build trust and unlock deeper, more sustained collaboration.

Trust in action: Lambeth Climate Partnership

We recognise that many councils are already leading the way in establishing values-led relationships with their business communities. The London Borough of Lambeth is putting trust into action through the Lambeth Climate Partnership by listening deeply to the concerns and ambitions of the community, responding to what local businesses care about, and committing to long-term relationship-building that goes beyond quick wins or campaigns. It’s a great example of how climate action can be anchored in purpose, empathy and integrity, and the outcome of this is a strong, deeply committed and self-sustaining partnership.A practical tool for your journeyWe hope this toolkit becomes a resource you can return to.

Whether you’re designing a new engagement strategy, preparing for a conversation with hesitant stakeholders, or reflecting with colleagues on how to deepen trust, these tools are here to support you.Climate action is relational. It comes from a strong belief in our own collective agency to shape a fair and sustainable future. By strengthening the relationships at the heart of local climate delivery, we can turn possibility into progress.