From poor public transport and farming emissions through to off-grid energy systems, the journey to Net Zero is uniquely complex for rural communities for many reasons.
A new resource from CCRI helps local authorities and environmental groups address these challenges – and turn rural climate ambitions into a reality.
The Rural Climathon Toolkit, launched on 26 November 2025, offers a practical, step-by-step guide to running successful rural Climathons.
Climathons are interactive, low-cost events of increasing interest to local authorities, NGOs, and community groups.
They bring together citizens, businesses, policymakers and environmental experts to generate ideas that work for local communities and accelerate the transition to Net Zero. Solutions range from renewable energy schemes to waste reduction initiatives.
Turning rural climate ambitions into actions
The Rural Climathon Toolkit adapts proven urban Climathon models for the countryside.
For example, it introduces flexible formats for the events to accommodate busy schedules, such as those of farmers.
It also promotes collaboration over competition between participants, reflecting the strong community spirit found in rural areas.
Professor Damian Maye (CCRI), who led the new Toolkit’s development, explained:
“Rural climate topics can sometimes be polarising. The Rural Climathon Toolkit gives you the tools to bring diverse voices together in one inclusive space and spark discussion around shared interests.
“The value of Climathons is that they create climate solutions that fit local economies, geographies and lifestyles.”
Professor Jeremy Phillipson of the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE), who also worked on the Toolkit’s development, added:
“These dynamic events generate ideas and solutions that tackle climate change which are both practical and driven by the ideas and experience of local communities.”
Proven impact for local authorities
Rural local authorities—and the communities they serve—are critical to achieving national climate goals.
“84% of UK councils now have climate action plans,” Professor Maye said. “The challenge is turning those plans into tangible actions.”
The Rural Climathon Toolkit has been piloted with district councils, including the Forest of Dean and Cotswold councils in Gloucestershire, and led to promising ideas.
Simon Richards, Forest of Dean Council’s Climate Team Leader said: “The Rural Climathon Toolkit has had an important impact.
“It enabled the Council to host a series of successful Climathons, producing concrete climate action ideas that we can incorporate into our climate action plan.
“For example, we are currently piloting a community car-share scheme inspired by ideas generated during the Transport Climathon.”
Further information
Access the Rural Climathon Toolkit: https://ccri.ac.uk/rural-climathon/
The Rural Climathon Toolkit was funded by the British Academy and UKRI. It was developed by the Countryside and Community Research Institute (CCRI) in collaboration with the National Innovation Centre for Rural Enterprise (NICRE).
The CCRI Rural Climathon Team
Read the research
This paper reflects on adapting the Climathon method as a novel deliberative approach for place-based climate governance, with a focus on agri-food climate solutions.
