Zero Carbon Kendal was set up by Kendal Town Council following on from the Kendal Climate Change Citizens’ Jury. It was in response to a key part of the jury’s recommendations – to increase awareness and make it easier for people to take action.

Kendal Town Council declared a climate emergency in 2019, and then convened the UK’s first town-level citizens’ jury to answer the question: What should Kendal do about climate change? The jury was facilitated by Shared Future, supported by the Zero Carbon Cumbria programme. Shared Future convened experts and helped jury members to answer the question that was put to them, and decide their recommendations. By convening a citizens’ jury, Kendal Town Council has a citizen-led mandate against business as usual. Projects and decisions are now assessed against the jury’s recommendations, which were within three broad climate change themes of food and farming, energy and transport. Once actioned, the recommendations will enable Kendal to become a leading light of positive climate action.  Find out more about Kendal Citizens’ Jury >