Turning climate ambition into local action

Following Barnet Council’s declaration of a Climate and Biodiversity Emergency, the borough set ambitious targets to become a net zero council by 2030 and a net zero borough by 2042. Achieving those ambitions would require more than a strategy document. It needed a clear identity and communications platform that could bring together residents, businesses, community organisations and council departments behind a shared goal.

Working in partnership with the council, we helped develop the BarNET ZERO identity and wider campaign framework. Together we created a brand that made a complex subject feel accessible, optimistic and relevant to everyday life. From the outset, the intention was to build something that could grow over time rather than deliver a single awareness campaign.

BarNET ZERO became the foundation for a wide range of sustainability initiatives across the borough. Together with the council, we developed campaign assets, templates, stakeholder toolkits and communications that could be adapted across social media, printed materials, outdoor advertising, events and internal communications, giving teams a consistent and recognisable framework to work from.

The identity later evolved to support Barnet Climate Action Month, while remaining part of the council’s wider sustainability programme. Years after its launch, both brands continue to be used across new campaigns and community initiatives, demonstrating the value of creating a flexible identity system rather than a one-off campaign.

The successful launch demonstrated the strength of a clear, adaptable communications platform. Since then, both BarNET ZERO and Barnet Climate Action Month have continued to support new initiatives across the borough, with the campaign receiving industry recognition, generating more than 150,000 video views during its launch and being recognised by the Local Government Association for its collaborative approach to public engagement.