The Net Zero Council Sector Transition Plan Programme is building the roadmap for how the UK economy realises the potential of the clean energy transition.  Sector-led coalitions are developing Sector Transition Plans (STPs) and corresponding Finance Plans to unlock investment, reduce uncertainty and turn decarbonisation from a long-term commitment into a source of growth, resilience and competitive advantage. The coalitions around each STP include businesses, financial institutions, workforce representatives, the Net Zero Council and government, drawing on finance, civil society, trade union, academic and local perspectives as needed. 

The Programme covers sectors across buildings and construction, transport, manufacturing, agrifood, utilities and services, with Sector Transition Plans already published for New Homes and Agrifood. Further publications are anticipated over the next six months, covering sectors including Resources and Waste, Retail, Hospitality and Concrete and Cement. 

The Programme also provides a bridge between different levels of transition planning: linking national frameworks such as the Government’s carbon budget delivery plans and Industrial Strategy with sector-level pathways and transition planning by individual companies. 

Connecting sector pathways with finance  

Connecting sector pathways with the finance needed to deliver them is central to the Programme. STPs are supported by Finance Plans, which identify investment requirements, barriers, sources of capital and relevant policy or market mechanisms. These plans turn climate commitments into investable opportunities and help mobilise the capital required for transition, making them key for businesses, investors and government. 

The Centre for Economic Transition Expertise (CETEx) is the knowledge partner to the STP Programme, principally leading the development and coordination of Finance Plans. CETEx, hosted within the Global School of Sustainability at the London School of Economics and Political Science, is a specialised research and policy centre focused on supporting climate- and nature-aligned economic reform around the world. 

From plans to practical action 

Early experience from existing Sector Transition Plans is already demonstrating the value of the approach. 

Kathryn Dapré, Head of Sustainability at Cala Group, said: 

"One of the biggest benefits of the Sector Transition Plan (STP) for Cala has been the credibility it provides. The STP was published around the same time we were progressing through the validation process for our Science Based Targets, and being able to reference it helped demonstrate that our ambitions were both robust and aligned with wider industry thinking. 

“Equally important is the fact that the STP was developed collaboratively by housebuilders with direct experience of delivering decarbonisation in practice. That gives it real-world relevance and practicality, which can sometimes be missing from frameworks developed without hands-on industry insight." 

The Programme is designed not simply to develop plans, but to give businesses, investors and policymakers a clearer shared view of where sectors are heading, what needs to change and where coordinated action is required. 

Co-Chair of the Working Group delivering the Programme, Rt Hon Chris Skidmore OBE said: 

“The approach is already generating strong interest, both from UK sectors and internationally. Sector Transition Plans provide a vital bridge, translating national climate objectives into more granular pathways for individual sectors and helping to coordinate action between government, industry and finance.” 

Click here to discover the forward plan, who is involved and the STP Guidance. 

Information about the Net Zero Council, it’s members and work, can be found here.