The UK climate champions helping the country reach net zero – let’s scale up the solutions

During London Climate Action Week this week, climate solutions charity Ashden is showcasing the seven winners of the 2024 Ashden Awards – three of which are from the UK – showcasing their innovative low carbon and nature-based climate solutions.

The Ashden Award winners will be attending and speaking at panel events at Reset Connect – the flagship conference of London Climate Action Week.

While the UK is in pre-election mode debating how best to help the country progress in coming years, the three UK champions show clearly how we could provide renewable, clean energy alternatives and protect our natural landscape and boost biodiversity.

Energise Barnsley are bringing solar power and lower bills to older people in Barnsley, tepeo provide a zero emission boiler alternative, and Wild Haweswater are conducting nature restoration work in the Lake District, nurturing new forests and protecting rivers and biodiversity.

All provide practical, current examples of how their solutions are already helping decarbonise the UK or protecting our deeply threatened natural landscapes, supporting green jobs and local economies along the way.

The winning innovators will be honoured in a ceremony at the Institution of Engineering and Technology in London on 27 June.

Ashden CEO Dr Ashok Sinha said: “These winners show what climate action is all about: stronger economies, fairer societies, brighter futures. We call on policymakers and funders to step up their support for these champions, and other climate trailblazers.”

The three UK winners:

Energise Barnsley (South Yorkshire): Ashden Award for People’s Energy

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A groundbreaking partnership bringing clean power and lower bills to South Yorkshire, with older people among those enjoying the benefits.

tepeo: Ashden Award for Energy Innovation (UK), supported by Impax Asset Management

tepeo’s Zero Emission Boiler (ZEB®) is a plug-n-play replacement for existing fossil fuel boilers, that works with a hot water tank to deliver low carbon and low-cost home heating.

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Wild Haweswater (Cumbria): Ashden Award for Nature Based Solutions, supported by the Lund Trust

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In the heart of the Lake District, this project from the RSPB and United Utilities is restoring a damaged landscape which in turn brings benefits for wildlife, water quality, and local communities.

Global South winners include, GOGO Electric (Uganda); Patapia (Uganda), Salpha (Nigeria), and Ujamaa Community Resource Team (Tanzania).