Our value lies in understanding public policy challenges, and being able to draw on extensive networks across business and academia.

We work closely with public officials to support improved public policy development and implementation, in the UK and internationally. From feeding into the 2050 Edinburgh City Vision to addressing the Irish Citizens’ Assembly, we deliver constructive, actionable policy input.

Our work with ClimateXChange

Through ClimateXChange, we coordinate research and analysis, delivering timely, high-quality advice to public policy-makers. This puts us in prime position to help shape effective regulatory frameworks for delivering a thriving zero carbon society.

What we deliver

We stimulate constructive collaborations and innovative thinking by:

• bringing different stakeholders together
• challenging existing policy and practice
• showcasing emerging thinking and practice
• creating space for deliberation and constructive dialogue

We shape better, more effective policy and public regulations by:

• providing policy-makers with clear findings, options and recommendations, however technical the subject matter
• supporting productive communication between policy teams and the suppliers of evidence and analysis
• matching the best researchers with the needs of public policy, in line with government timelines
• building trust between research and policy communities

Recent policy work

The key policies and initiatives for which ClimateXChange have recently delivered analysis and evidence:

• Climate Change Plan Update (CCPu): supported development of the update (published in December 2020) including research into uptake of electric vehicles; agricultural mitigation; and low-carbon industrial production.
• Green recovery and Covid-19: delivered research on travel behaviours and business recovery; communicating climate change after Covid; and development of 20-minute neighbourhoods.
• Scottish Climate Change Adaptation Programme (SCCAP) – continued to deliver research tasks identified in the programme, including on soil vulnerability and flood risk management.
• Scotland’s Energy Strategy: delivered research on grid-scale battery storage and on the implications for Scotland of operating a zero-carbon GB electricity network.
• Scotland’s Draft Heat in Buildings Strategy: delivered research on district heating and on public awareness of and attitudes to low-carbon heating technologies. Six other heat-related reports were close to completion at the year end.
• Scotland’s Infrastructure Investment Plan 2021-22 to 2025-26: provided research on aligning investment with Scotland’s climate goals.
• Scotland’s Draft Public Engagement Strategy for Climate Change: provided a report on understanding and engaging the public on climate change.
• COP26: continued to support preparation for the climate summit.

Meet the team

Find out more about our in-house policy experts, and what they do at ECCI.