Q+A with UK-Based Agency Greenhouse Communications

Q: What kind of work is Greenhouse Communications doing to drive positive social and environmental change?

Greenhouse Communications works with entrepreneurs, pioneers, and NGOs, focusing on the areas where we can make the most impact, to accelerate and scale solutions to climate change. We support clients in campaigns to build and support a sustainable economy, from working with entrepreneurs on clean technologies, to building and supporting powerful coalitions and successfully using the levers of financial markets and the law to drive accountability.

The work we do is very varied – whether it’s celebrating inter-governmental collaboration like on Mission Innovation 2.0 with the launch of an announcement from 23 states on the investment in clean energy innovation, to supporting the youth movement to engage politicians with Mock COP26, or launching Carbon Tracker research exposing major oil companies’ climate policies.

In 2020/21 the growing interest in climate change and the demand for government action meant that we doubled our team from 30 to nearly 60 people, investing in expertise across media, digital, social, and public affairs, to enable us to deliver outstanding service and results for our clients.  

We delivered over 70 campaigns to address the climate crisis, tackle biodiversity loss, campaign for climate justice, drive innovation, and accelerate the transition to a global green economy.

In policy terms, U.K. climate legislation was made in 2008; the Climate Change Act committed us to an overall cut in emissions of at least 80 percent by 2050, from 1990 rates. In 2019 this was amended with a target of achieving net-zero emissions (100 percent) by 2050. Other policy measures include specific carbon taxes and heavy subsidies for the green energy sector, and cleantech research and development.

Although progress has been made, for example in reaching 42 percent energy generation from renewables in 2020, it has not been enough. The U.K is still projected to fall short of its Paris Agreement commitments unless more radical changes are made fast. This lack of action is compounded by a government that is still encouraging a new coal mine, the development of an oilfield, and state subsidies across dirty fossil fuel industries.

In business, the U.K. green sector is booming and worth an estimated 200 billion pounds – that’s four times more than our manufacturing sector. With this boom has come both economic growth and new green jobs. From green transport, to clean energy and green investment, our climate-related businesses have been flourishing.

Q: In what ways can the United States and the U.K. work together to create a world where frontline communities receive the resources and support needed?

The election of President Joe Biden and the rapid and crucial shift in U.S. climate policy was a critical moment in the U.K./U.S. joint fight against climate change. As two of the world’s largest economies, we have both set out to be world leaders on sustainability.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made clear that at COP26  he wants international investment to be near the top of the agenda. Global South countries, or those dealing with more climate risk due to their location, need the support of Global North countries to transition to a cleaner world.  In the U.K. we have increased our international climate finance by 50 percent to a projected 11.6 billion pounds between 2021 and 2026. The understanding that the world can only recover as fast as the slowest transitioning economies is crucial to any individual country’s fight against climate change.

The U.S. and U.K. are both global innovation hubs and the historical closeness of our two nations have allowed for massive skill, and technology sharing between the two. Just this year we announced a joint science and technology partnership, aiming to strengthen the relationship between the two countries, create new jobs and protect the security of citizens. These partnerships and resulting innovations allow the green industrial revolution to increase its pace.

We can see how collaboration is driving ambition and enabling innovation, but there’s a much larger advantage to the U.K./U.S. partnership: global leadership. To avoid climate catastrophe it is not just individual countries that need to cut down on emissions; globally we need to reduce emissions by 7.6 percent every year for at least the next decade to meet the Paris Agreement goal of a 1.5 degrees Celsius temperature rise. This is not a challenge for each nation but rather for the global economy as a whole.

The main theme at COP26 will be international climate finance – where Global North countries need to provide support to ensure all countries can transition to net-zero or below. Without this aid, many Global South countries will not be able to afford to cut emissions without significantly damaging the wellbeing of their citizens.

Similar to how the Marshall plan helped restore Europe’s economy post World War II, we need a new generation of U.K./U.S. global aid and leadership to ensure that the global sustainability transition is just, swift, and encourages the green growth and jobs needed so that we make sure the most vulnerable are not left behind.

We also pioneer a regenerative business model which invests one percent profit for the planet and 30 percent of consultancy time pro-bono to help mission-driven NGOs and smaller enterprises driving positive change. An example of the pro bono communications support we provide is to the Black & Green Ambassadors, an initiative launched in 2014 which seeks to connect, empower and celebrate diverse leadership in the sustainability sector.

As a growing dynamic agency, we recognize that there is more we need to do to diversify our organization and that it’s a continual journey. At every stage, we take input and welcome feedback from the wider team and hold accountability at all levels. We hope to continue to foster an inclusive and open environment for conversations around culture and inclusivity – both within Greenhouse and across the whole sector.