CINXE.COM

<!doctype html> <html lang="en-GB" prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# fb: http://ogp.me/ns/fb#"> <head> <meta charset="UTF-8"> <title>News / mySociety</title> <meta name="description" content="mySociety provides technology, research and data to help people be active citizens, in more than 40 countries around the world."> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"> <meta name='robots' content='max-image-preview:large' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//ajax.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//fonts.googleapis.com' /> <link rel='dns-prefetch' href='//s.w.org' /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="mySociety » Feed" href="https://www.mysociety.org/feed/" /> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="mySociety » Comments Feed" href="https://www.mysociety.org/comments/feed/" /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=5.9.10' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='create-block-castos-transcript-style-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--castos-transcript--panel-bg:#f3f3f4}.ssp-transcript input[type=checkbox]{opacity:0;position:absolute;z-index:-1}.ssp-transcript .row{display:flex}.ssp-transcript .row .col{flex:1}.ssp-transcript .tabs{overflow:hidden}.ssp-transcript .tab{overflow:hidden;width:100%}.ssp-transcript .tab-label{background:var(--castos-transcript--panel-bg);cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-weight:700;justify-content:space-between;margin:0;padding:1em}.ssp-transcript .tab-label:hover{filter:brightness(95%)}.ssp-transcript .tab-label:after{content:"❯";text-align:center;transition:all .35s;width:1em}.ssp-transcript .tab-content{background:#fff;max-height:0;padding:0 1em;transition:all .35s}.ssp-transcript .tab-close{background:var(--castos-transcript--panel-bg);cursor:pointer;display:flex;font-size:.75em;justify-content:flex-end;padding:1em}.ssp-transcript .tab-close:hover,.ssp-transcript input:checked+.tab-label{filter:brightness(95%)}.ssp-transcript input:checked+.tab-label:after{transform:rotate(90deg)}.ssp-transcript input:checked~.tab-content{max-height:none;padding:1em} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> body{--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--duotone--dark-grayscale: url('#wp-duotone-dark-grayscale');--wp--preset--duotone--grayscale: url('#wp-duotone-grayscale');--wp--preset--duotone--purple-yellow: url('#wp-duotone-purple-yellow');--wp--preset--duotone--blue-red: url('#wp-duotone-blue-red');--wp--preset--duotone--midnight: url('#wp-duotone-midnight');--wp--preset--duotone--magenta-yellow: url('#wp-duotone-magenta-yellow');--wp--preset--duotone--purple-green: url('#wp-duotone-purple-green');--wp--preset--duotone--blue-orange: url('#wp-duotone-blue-orange');--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='search-filter-plugin-styles-css' href='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/plugins/search-filter-pro/public/assets/css/search-filter.min.css?ver=2.5.17' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='google-fonts-css' href='https://fonts.googleapis.com/css?family=Source+Sans+Pro%3A400%2C600%2C700%2C900%2C400italic&ver=5.9.10' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='global-css' href='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/css/global.css?ver=1730965478' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='print-css' href='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/css/print.css?ver=1656423719' type='text/css' media='print' />  <script type='text/javascript' src='https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.10.2/jquery.min.js' id='jquery-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' id='search-filter-plugin-build-js-extra'> /* <![CDATA[ */ var SF_LDATA = {"ajax_url":"https:\/\/www.mysociety.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","home_url":"https:\/\/www.mysociety.org\/","extensions":[]}; /* ]]> */ </script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/plugins/search-filter-pro/public/assets/js/search-filter-build.min.js?ver=2.5.17' id='search-filter-plugin-build-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/plugins/search-filter-pro/public/assets/js/chosen.jquery.min.js?ver=2.5.17' id='search-filter-plugin-chosen-js'></script>   <script src='https://blogs.mysociety.org/?dm=35ad60b56721cbb21832aefc8835b60c&action=load&blogid=26&siteid=1&t=1383449048&back=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mysociety.org%2Fblog%2F' type='text/javascript'></script> <link rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Podcast RSS feed" href="https://www.mysociety.org/feed/podcast" />   <meta property="og:locale" content="en_GB"/> <meta property="og:site_name" content="mySociety"/> <meta property="og:title" content="mySociety"/> <meta property="og:url" content="https://www.mysociety.org/blog/"/> <meta property="og:type" content="website"/> <meta property="og:description" content="mySociety provides technology, research and data to help people be active citizens, in more than 40 countries around the world."/> <meta property="og:image" content="https://blogs.mysociety.org/mysociety/files/2019/07/mysociety-large-social.png"/> <meta property="og:image:url" content="https://blogs.mysociety.org/mysociety/files/2019/07/mysociety-large-social.png"/> <meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://blogs.mysociety.org/mysociety/files/2019/07/mysociety-large-social.png"/> <meta property="article:publisher" content="https://www.facebook.com/mysociety"/>  <meta itemprop="name" content="mySociety"/> <meta itemprop="headline" content="mySociety"/> <meta itemprop="description" content="mySociety provides technology, research and data to help people be active citizens, in more than 40 countries around the world."/> <meta itemprop="image" content="https://blogs.mysociety.org/mysociety/files/2019/07/mysociety-large-social.png"/>    <meta name="twitter:title" content="mySociety"/> <meta name="twitter:url" content="https://www.mysociety.org/blog/"/> <meta name="twitter:description" content="mySociety provides technology, research and data to help people be active citizens, in more than 40 countries around the world."/> <meta name="twitter:image" content="https://blogs.mysociety.org/mysociety/files/2019/07/mysociety-large-social.png"/> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image"/> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@mysociety"/>     <script defer>Object.defineProperty(document,"cookie",{get:function(){var t=Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(Document.prototype,"cookie").get.call(document);return t.trim().length>0&&(t+="; "),t+="_ga=GA1.1."+Math.floor(1e9*Math.random())+"."+Math.floor(1e9*Math.random())},set:function(t){t.trim().startsWith("_ga")||Object.getOwnPropertyDescriptor(Document.prototype,"cookie").set.call(document,t)}});</script> <script defer src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-2X56VXTG0K"></script> <script> var client_id = Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000000000) + '.' + Math.floor(Math.random() * 1000000000); window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config','G-2X56VXTG0K', {'client_id': client_id, 'cookie_expires': 1 }); </script> <script> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-660910-12', {'storage': 'none'}); ga('set', 'anonymizeIp', true); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> </head> <body class=' colour-blue' > <div class="hero-background"></div> <div class="hero-area"> <header class="site-header" role="banner"> <div class="container"> <h1 class="mysociety-logo mysociety-logo--full"> <a href="/">mySociety</a> </h1> <a href="#" class="nav-toggle js-nav-toggle"> Menu </a> <div class="site-navigation-collection js-site-navigation-collection"> <nav class="site-nav primary-nav" role="navigation"> <ul id="menu-primary" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-27925" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-27925"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/transparency/">Transparency</a></li> <li id="menu-item-27926" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-27926"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/democracy/">Democracy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-27927" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-27927"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/community/">Community</a></li> <li id="menu-item-22468" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-22468"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/our-research/">Research</a></li> <li id="menu-item-47229" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-47229"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/climate/">Climate</a></li> <li id="menu-item-40676" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom current-menu-item menu-item-40676"><a href="/blog/" aria-current="page">News</a></li> <li id="menu-item-54478" class="menu-item menu-item-type-taxonomy menu-item-object-series menu-item-54478"><a title="Podcast" href="https://www.mysociety.org/podcasts/mysociety/">Podcast</a></li> </ul> </nav> <nav class="site-nav secondary-nav" role="navigation"> <ul id="menu-secondary" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-39015" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-39015"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/about/">About</a></li> <li id="menu-item-39017" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-39017"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li id="menu-item-40677" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-40677"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/advice-and-support/">Use our code</a></li> </ul> <a href="/donate" class="secondary-nav__donate">Donate</a> </nav> <div class="search-input site-header__search-input"> <form role="search" method="get" id="searchform" class="searchform" action="https://www.mysociety.org/"> <div class="search-input__layout"> <label class="screen-reader-text" for="s">Search for:</label> <input type="text" name="s" id="s" class="search-input__field" value="" placeholder="Search" /> <input type="image" id="searchsubmit" value="Search" src="https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/img/search-icon.svg" height="20" width="20" class="search-input__image-submit" /> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </header> <header class="page-header "> <div class="container"> <div class="breadcrumb"> <ul><li><a href="https://www.mysociety.org">Home</a></li></ul> </div> <h1>News from mySociety</h1> <p class="page-subtitle">Keeping up to date with mySociety developments</p> </div>  </header> </div> <div class="container container--main"> <div class="grid-row blog-layout"> <div class="primary-column primary-column--canvas "> <main class="main" role="main"> <ol class="list-of-blog-posts"> <li> <div class="photo-topper photo-topper--cover-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.mysociety.org/files/2025/02/lewisham.jpg');"> </div> <div class="canvas canvas--reduce-top-padding"> <header class="blog-post-header" id="post-55461"> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__title-and-meta"> <div class="blog-post-title-grid-unit"> <h2 class="mid-heading"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/26/the-scale-of-the-challenge-might-sometimes-feel-overwhelming-but-its-possible-to-break-it-down/" title="Permalink to “The scale of the challenge might sometimes feel overwhelming, but it’s possible to break it down”" rel="bookmark">“The scale of the challenge might sometimes feel overwhelming, but it’s possible to break it down”</a></h2> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=54&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=108&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-54 photo' height='54' width='54' loading='lazy'/> <div> <span class="blog-post-meta__label">Posted by</span> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/author/myfnixon/" class="blog-post-meta__author-name" title="Posts by Myfanwy" rel="author"> Myfanwy </a> <span class="blog-post-meta__date"> <time datetime="2025-02-26" pubdate>26th February 2025</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__categories-and-comments"> <div class="blog-post-categories-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--category">Posted in</i> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/climate/" rel="category tag">Climate</a> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta__comments">  </div> </div> <div class="blog-post-comments-grid-unit"> </div> </div> </header> <div class="wordpress-editor-content"> <p>We spoke to Martin O’Brien at Lewisham Council about the <a href="https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/">Climate Council Action Scorecards</a>, and the ways in which he’s used them to support his role as Head of Climate Resilience.</p> <p>The Scorecards assess all UK councils across a large variety of different climate actions, publishing the final marks online, for both councils and the public to see.</p> <p>So, how do all these numbers actually help a council in their work towards Net Zero? Martin told us that there are three distinct ways in which they’re useful.</p> <p>“Firstly, I use them to build a sense of what’s going on around climate action, across all local authorities. They help me identify areas where we have gaps in our own action, and the places where we might pick up useful insight, tools and advice from other councils.</p> <p>“Then they’re also useful for our engagement across the council’s service teams, to spell out and reinforce the connections between what they do and our ambitions on climate action.</p> <p>“And then finally, they help with our communication and engagement with residents, particularly local activist and environmental groups. They encourage a conversation that acknowledges we can’t do everything, that there are some areas where we are taking meaningful action — but also, areas where we are keen to learn, to expand and improve how we work and what we can achieve.”</p> <p>Can Martin put any measures to the impact the Scorecards have had for Lewisham?</p> <p>“It’s hard to translate the benefits into hard facts and figures, but I feel that they’ve given us, as a council, confidence and pride in some of the things we have achieved. They’ve shown that while the scale of the challenge might sometimes feel overwhelming, it’s possible to break it down into achievable steps.</p> <p>“I don’t always agree with the scoring. If I’m honest there are times I’m surprised we get a mark (I won’t tell you which ones) and there are other times I’m outraged we don’t (happy to share information about this). But more often than not when I look at the methodology and the assessments, I can see there’s a potential opportunity to reshape the way we do things for the better.”</p> <p>Thanks very much to Martin for sharing these insights — it’s always helpful for us to understand exactly how the Scorecards are proving useful. The Climate Council Action Scorecards are a joint project between Climate Emergency UK and mySociety.</p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> —</span></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: </span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/mysight/3714235230/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Robin Inkysloth</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> cc </span><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/2.0/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">by-nc-nd/2.0</span></a></p> </div> <footer class="blog-post-footer"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--tag">Tagged</i><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/case-studies/" rel="tag">case studies</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/councils/" rel="tag">councils</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/local-government-2/" rel="tag">local government</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/scorecards/" rel="tag">scorecards</a> </div> </footer> </div> </li> <li> <div class="photo-topper photo-topper--cover-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.mysociety.org/files/2025/02/TICTeC-banner.jpg');"> </div> <div class="canvas canvas--reduce-top-padding"> <header class="blog-post-header" id="post-55448"> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__title-and-meta"> <div class="blog-post-title-grid-unit"> <h2 class="mid-heading"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/25/tictec-2025-is-going-ahead-as-planned/" title="Permalink to TICTeC 2025 is going ahead as planned" rel="bookmark">TICTeC 2025 is going ahead as planned</a></h2> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=54&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=108&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-54 photo' height='54' width='54' loading='lazy'/> <div> <span class="blog-post-meta__label">Posted by</span> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/author/myfnixon/" class="blog-post-meta__author-name" title="Posts by Myfanwy" rel="author"> Myfanwy </a> <span class="blog-post-meta__date"> <time datetime="2025-02-25" pubdate>25th February 2025</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__categories-and-comments"> <div class="blog-post-categories-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--category">Posted in</i> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/events/" rel="category tag">Events</a> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta__comments">  </div> </div> <div class="blog-post-comments-grid-unit"> </div> </div> </header> <div class="wordpress-editor-content"> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We are glad to say that TICTeC (The Impacts of Civic Technology conference) will be going ahead as planned, </span><a href="https://tictec.mysociety.org/event/tictec-2025-mechelen-online/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">in Mechelen Belgium and online</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, on June 10-11.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So, if you were holding off on reserving your place, booking accommodation or travel, you can now do so with confidence — and we very much look forward to seeing you in June.</span></p> <h3><b>What happened?</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Part of the funding for TICTeC was provided by NED, the National Endowment for Democracy. Unfortunately, </span><a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/02/13/national-endowment-democracy-musk-funding-017146"><span style="font-weight: 400;">NED has been affected</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by the Trump administration’s federal funding freeze, and so can no longer commit to providing the funds that they had pledged. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">However, we have now secured alternative funding to fill that gap.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re aware the US funding freeze also affects some of our potential attendees. The event was always going to be both online and in person, and we will be working over the coming months to make sure that we bring together a diverse range of projects and approaches from around the world to share and shape what happens next in </span><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2024/11/07/pro-democracy-tech-reframing-civic-tech-for-the-current-moment/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">pro-democratic tech</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. We’ll be sharing more about how we want to use TICTeC to provide a forum to respond to the urgency of the current moment. </span></p> <h3><b>What’s happening at TICTeC?</b></h3> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re excited to have two amazing keynote speakers: </span><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/10/tictec-2025-keynote-announcement-fernanda-campagnucci/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fernanda Campagnucci</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and </span><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/01/30/tictec-2025-keynote-announcement-marietje-schaake/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marietje Schaake</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, both of whom have really pertinent insights and experience that will ignite the two days of conversation at TICTeC.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The full schedule will be published soon, but you can be sure that it will be as full as ever of presentations that are relevant to the present moment for the civic tech community. Meanwhile, if you </span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-impacts-of-civic-technology-conference-tictec-2025-hybrid-event-tickets-1068977603789?aff=oddtdtcreator"><span style="font-weight: 400;">book your ticket</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> before <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">3 March</span> <strong>17 March</strong> (we’ve extended the period in recognition of this period of uncertainty), you can secure them at early bird prices.</span></p> </div> <footer class="blog-post-footer"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--tag">Tagged</i><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/funding/" rel="tag">funding</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/tictec/" rel="tag">TICTeC</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/tictec-2025/" rel="tag">tictec 2025</a> </div> </footer> </div> </li> <li> <div class="photo-topper photo-topper--cover-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.mysociety.org/files/2025/02/fernanda-banner-scaled.jpg');"> </div> <div class="canvas canvas--reduce-top-padding"> <header class="blog-post-header" id="post-55431"> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__title-and-meta"> <div class="blog-post-title-grid-unit"> <h2 class="mid-heading"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/10/tictec-2025-keynote-announcement-fernanda-campagnucci/" title="Permalink to TICTeC 2025 keynote announcement: Fernanda Campagnucci" rel="bookmark">TICTeC 2025 keynote announcement: Fernanda Campagnucci</a></h2> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=54&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=108&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-54 photo' height='54' width='54' loading='lazy'/> <div> <span class="blog-post-meta__label">Posted by</span> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/author/myfnixon/" class="blog-post-meta__author-name" title="Posts by Myfanwy" rel="author"> Myfanwy </a> <span class="blog-post-meta__date"> <time datetime="2025-02-10" pubdate>10th February 2025</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__categories-and-comments"> <div class="blog-post-categories-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--category">Posted in</i> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/tictec/" rel="category tag">TICTeC</a> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta__comments">  </div> </div> <div class="blog-post-comments-grid-unit"> </div> </div> </header> <div class="wordpress-editor-content"> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The keynote speakers set the tone for </span><a href="https://tictec.mysociety.org/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TICTeC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> each year, kicking off the conference with a timely provocation that seeds ideas through the sessions that follow, and informs new channels of discussion.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our first keynote announcement for TICTeC 2025 is </span><a href="https://fecampagnucci.com/sobre/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fernanda Campagnucci</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, Executive Director of InternetLab, who brings unparalleled expertise in transparency, digital transformation, and civic engagement. Fernanda will explore what is made possible by new forms of technology — especially in the anti-corruption space — and what needs to happen to make those possibilities a reality.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With TICTeC’s </span><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2024/11/20/tictec-2025-call-for-session-proposals-now-open/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">emphasis on pro-democracy technology</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> this year, Fernanda’s knowledge and experience is sure to spark two days of informed insights.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Fernanda’s diverse career spans a number of roles — and continents — but has been guided by a commitment to reshaping public governance and leveraging technology for positive change.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From 2019-24 she was Executive Director of Open Knowledge Brasil, enhancing its impact on public policy. Prior to this she was a public manager at Sao Paulo City Hall, championing policies centered on transparency, digital transformation, and civic technologies, fundamentally reshaping the way government interacts with its citizens. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Her role as the Head of Integrity at the Comptroller General’s Office further deepened her understanding of ethical governance; and at the Department of Education, she led the flagship Open Government Initiative ‘Patio Digital’.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Meanwhile, Fernanda’s academic achievements have complemented her practical experience, with a first degree in Journalism followed by a Masters in Education and a PhD in Public Administration: she’s also acted as a lecturer on Compliance and Public Innovation.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">All of these roles will inform Fernanda’s keynote, so we hope you’ll be in the room — or joining us via Zoom — when she steps up to the podium. </span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-impacts-of-civic-technology-conference-tictec-2025-hybrid-event-tickets-1068977603789"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s where to reserve your place</span></a> (and if you act before March 3, you’ll pay earlybird pricing).</p> </div> <footer class="blog-post-footer"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--tag">Tagged</i><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/democracy/" rel="tag">democracy</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/events/" rel="tag">events</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/tictec/" rel="tag">TICTeC</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/tictec-2025/" rel="tag">tictec 2025</a> </div> </footer> </div> </li> <li> <div class="photo-topper photo-topper--cover-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.mysociety.org/files/2025/02/geograph-5303615-by-John-Sutton.jpg');"> </div> <div class="canvas canvas--reduce-top-padding"> <header class="blog-post-header" id="post-55424"> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__title-and-meta"> <div class="blog-post-title-grid-unit"> <h2 class="mid-heading"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/06/the-action-scorecards-help-staff-justify-climate-action/" title="Permalink to The Action Scorecards help staff justify climate action" rel="bookmark">The Action Scorecards help staff justify climate action</a></h2> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=54&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=108&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-54 photo' height='54' width='54' loading='lazy'/> <div> <span class="blog-post-meta__label">Posted by</span> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/author/myfnixon/" class="blog-post-meta__author-name" title="Posts by Myfanwy" rel="author"> Myfanwy </a> <span class="blog-post-meta__date"> <time datetime="2025-02-06" pubdate>6th February 2025</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__categories-and-comments"> <div class="blog-post-categories-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--category">Posted in</i> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/climate/" rel="category tag">Climate</a> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta__comments">  </div> </div> <div class="blog-post-comments-grid-unit"> </div> </div> </header> <div class="wordpress-editor-content"> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cambridge City Council was the </span><a href="https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/scoring/district/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">second highest scoring district council in the UK</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> on the </span><a href="https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Council Climate Action Scorecards</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a joint project between mySociety and Climate Emergency UK (CE UK).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Given their success, Climate Change Officer at Cambridge Janet Fogg was keen to tell us how they’ve been using the Scorecards since they were launched. She and CE UK’s Annie spoke over Zoom. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I came across the project thanks to CEUK letting us know via email about the Scorecards and the Right of Reply back in 2022. We took part in the Right of Reply that year, before the final Scorecards results came out. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I used the 2023 Scorecards in the most recent committee report on our climate action.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With the score that we got, we were keen to let people know about it! Receiving this high score helped us show to people that when we say we are doing everything we can, it’s backed up by evidence: the Scorecard results. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Sometimes we get criticism that we don’t talk enough about what we are doing on our climate action, and these Scorecards are a way for us to show what work we are doing, and in an easy way for residents to see and understand, too.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Janet went on to explain how the Action Scorecards are a useful tool within the council when working with other departments. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Having the specific actions laid out in the Scorecards helps me justify and put forward a stronger case that these actions are good to do.They’re not just actions that I think we as a council should do, but best practice, and I can point to other councils that are doing these things. And it’s not just a list, we are all also being measured on whether we do these actions, via the Scorecards, so it’s important we really do implement them. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A lot of my work is about dealing with change and change is difficult. Having the Scorecards helps us lay out clearly which actions we want to be doing and the benefit of doing so.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Council Climate Action Scorecards results are public for everyone to see. Janet told us how this is one of their most useful benefits.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Having an external organisation like CE UK giving us feedback on our work is helpful. And I’m happy that it’s not a hidden assessment, it’s really clear for us to see where we got marks and where we didn’t, and see also where other councils scored or not too. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The Action Scorecards questions help shape our future work plans. The questions set out what needs doing and we shape our work around this.” </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Cambridge City Council also responded to the latest Right of Reply, ahead of the 2025 Action Scorecards. But they are aware of where improvements can still be made. “As a council we have high ambition but are constrained in some areas such as still being in the process of updating our Local Plan”. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks to Janet for taking the time to talk to us!</span></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: right;">—</p> <p style="text-align: right;">Image: <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/more.php?id=5303615">John Sutton</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">cc by/sa-2.0</a>)</p> </div> <footer class="blog-post-footer"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--tag">Tagged</i><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/case-studies/" rel="tag">case studies</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/councils/" rel="tag">councils</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/scorecards/" rel="tag">scorecards</a> </div> </footer> </div> </li> <li> <div class="photo-topper photo-topper--cover-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.mysociety.org/files/2025/02/geograph-6984845-by-Jim-Osley.jpg');"> </div> <div class="canvas canvas--reduce-top-padding"> <header class="blog-post-header" id="post-55418"> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__title-and-meta"> <div class="blog-post-title-grid-unit"> <h2 class="mid-heading"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/06/the-scorecards-show-councils-what-good-looks-like/" title="Permalink to The Scorecards show councils what ‘good’ looks like" rel="bookmark">The Scorecards show councils what ‘good’ looks like</a></h2> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=54&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=108&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-54 photo' height='54' width='54' loading='lazy'/> <div> <span class="blog-post-meta__label">Posted by</span> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/author/myfnixon/" class="blog-post-meta__author-name" title="Posts by Myfanwy" rel="author"> Myfanwy </a> <span class="blog-post-meta__date"> <time datetime="2025-02-06" pubdate>6th February 2025</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__categories-and-comments"> <div class="blog-post-categories-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--category">Posted in</i> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/climate/" rel="category tag">Climate</a> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta__comments">  </div> </div> <div class="blog-post-comments-grid-unit"> </div> </div> </header> <div class="wordpress-editor-content"> <p>Kelly Murphy is the Climate Change Officer at Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, a local authority in Hertfordshire that oversees a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas.<u></u><u></u></p> <p>As Kelly explained, Welwyn Hatfield works collaboratively with nine other authorities within the Hertfordshire Climate Change and Sustainability Partnership (along with County Council and Hertfordshire Futures<i>)</i>, where they share information and work collectively to broaden the impact of their Net Zero and sustainability projects. We were keen to hear what part the <a href="https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/&source=gmail&ust=1738917285142000&usg=AOvVaw18iKHn-xD47RZGDvZgAnPr">Council Climate Action Scorecards</a> have played within Welwyn Hatfield.<u></u><u></u></p> <p>Kelly explained that, for Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council, one big advantage has been the ability to learn from other authorities: <u></u><u></u></p> <p><b>“</b>We’ve used the Scorecards to understand what areas we need to improve in, and to research what ‘good’ looks like”, she says. “The transparent scoring meant we could identify local authorities across the UK that had performed highly in specific sections, then research what aspects they were doing well on, and how they were doing it.”<u></u><u></u></p> <p>And how does that kind of research translate into action? Kelly gave a perfect example: <u></u><u></u></p> <p>“One section where we could see that we needed to develop our approach was Collaboration and Engagement. Having a climate agenda and taking action is obviously of great importance, but we needed to ensure that they were also being communicated throughout the borough so that residents understood exactly what the council is doing. <u></u><u></u></p> <p>“After researching other local authorities that performed well in this section, and incorporating feedback from a resident survey we conducted, we looked at what was within our budget and officer capacity. <u></u><u></u></p> <p>“We decided the best way to engage with residents, community groups and businesses was the creation of our <a href="https://one.welhat.gov.uk/environment" target="_blank" rel="noopener" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://one.welhat.gov.uk/environment&source=gmail&ust=1738917285142000&usg=AOvVaw1vs4kjEpRq7ntoYuUeVmfm">Welwyn Hatfield Climate Hub</a>, a dedicated space on the One Welwyn Hatfield community website. It’s a single source for everything climate-related in the borough, with progress updates, news, links to relevant reports and policies, educational resources, funding information, notification of relevant events and competitions, a list of community eco groups and so on.”<u></u><u></u></p> <p>That sounds like a real step up, and a great response to learning that improvements needed to be made in this area.<u></u><u></u></p> <p>Compiling the Scorecards is a significant effort, managed by Climate Emergency UK with trained-up volunteers. But equally, they wouldn’t be possible without buy-in from the councils themselves, who are invited to respond to their marks before the Scorecards go live. We asked Kelly what the council’s experience had been of this process.<u></u><u></u></p> <p>“It’s actually been very useful,” she says. “For instance, during the right of reply period, I noted that we had not scored on a number of questions. I knew that marking depends on having publicly available evidence, and when I looked for it I discovered that, in some cases, the information was quite tricky to find. <u></u><u></u></p> <p>“A new sustainable procurement appendix, for example, had been recently added to our procurement and commercial strategy 2021-2025, but unless you knew it was there, you might not scroll all the way down through that document. <u></u><u></u></p> <p>“As a result, I updated the Climate Hub, with a new section specifically on sustainable procurement, including a link to take readers directly to the strategy and ultimately improving accessibility to this information.”<u></u><u></u></p> <p>Another benefit was also provided regarding funding, Kelly explains “Climate awareness/literacy training has featured in the Scorecards for the last few years. The fact we had not scored in this area, along with a number of other persuasive reasons, was presented in a report to senior leaders and councillors to request draw down of money from the climate reserves to fund this training.<u></u><u></u></p> <p>“Having agreed that providing climate awareness training was a crucial step in supporting, enabling and empowering individuals to take climate action, we collaborated with a private company to offer staff, councillors and our residents bespoke climate awareness training. We are excited to launch this training at the end of the month and look forward to hearing about the positive impacts the training has had both internally within the organisation and externally around the borough.”<u></u><u></u></p> <p>It’s wonderful to hear of the tangible results the Scorecards have helped to bring about, thanks to Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council’s positive and proactive attitude. <u></u><u></u></p> <p>Kelly says as we conclude our conversation, “You can’t compare councils like for like — they have different demographics, governance structures, administration, budgets, officer capacity, and so on — so it might have been easy to dismiss the Scorecards. But it’s not a competition, and the Scorecards don’t try to make it one. We’ve embraced the process because climate change has no borders.”<i><u></u><u></u></i></p> <p>“Ultimately, a platform that flags areas for improvement and signposts to best practice should only been seen positively. It enables us all to move in the same direction towards the same goal.”<u></u><u></u></p> <p>We heartily agree! Thanks very much to Kelly for sharing her experiences.</p> <p style="text-align: right;">—</p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image by </span><a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/profile/11136"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jim Osley</span></a> <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CC by-sa/2.0</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p> </div> <footer class="blog-post-footer"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--tag">Tagged</i><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/case-studies/" rel="tag">case studies</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/councils/" rel="tag">councils</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/scorecards/" rel="tag">scorecards</a> </div> </footer> </div> </li> <li> <div class="photo-topper photo-topper--cover-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.mysociety.org/files/2025/02/vika-strawberrika-GfzD8VEQ3P4-unsplash.jpg');"> </div> <div class="canvas canvas--reduce-top-padding"> <header class="blog-post-header" id="post-55408"> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__title-and-meta"> <div class="blog-post-title-grid-unit"> <h2 class="mid-heading"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/04/january-2025-news-from-the-ati-network/" title="Permalink to January 2025 News from the ATI Network" rel="bookmark">January 2025 News from the ATI Network</a></h2> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0aa75e68ff7400d249d54e013d74b128?s=54&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/0aa75e68ff7400d249d54e013d74b128?s=108&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-54 photo' height='54' width='54' loading='lazy'/> <div> <span class="blog-post-meta__label">Posted by</span> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/author/jenbramley/" class="blog-post-meta__author-name" title="Posts by Jen" rel="author"> Jen </a> <span class="blog-post-meta__date"> <time datetime="2025-02-04" pubdate>4th February 2025</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__categories-and-comments"> <div class="blog-post-categories-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--category">Posted in</i> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/transparency/alaveteli/" rel="category tag">Alaveteli</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/transparency/alaveteli/alaveteli-professional/" rel="category tag">Alaveteli Professional</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/transparency/" rel="category tag">Transparency</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/transparency/whatdotheyknow/" rel="category tag">WhatDoTheyKnow</a> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta__comments">  </div> </div> <div class="blog-post-comments-grid-unit"> </div> </div> </header> <div class="wordpress-editor-content"> <p>2025 definitely felt like it’s had quite the entrance and things have been full and exciting here at mySociety’s transparency team! So let’s take a look at how 2025 started for the ATI Network</p> <p><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/"><b>mySociety</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: have been working hard putting together a schedule for TICTeC, there’s going to be an ATI day on June 12th which we hope you’ll all attend, and there’s set to be an amazing group of ATI focused sessions which we’re excited about! We’re also kicking off our FOI support process for organisations working with marginalised communities and hope to share more about that soon.</span></p> <p><a href="https://www.access-info.org/"><b>Access Info</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Europe: sent the Moldovan recommendations to the Council of Europe Access to Information Group, a monitoring body established by the Tromsø Convention (see </span><a href="https://www.access-info.org/wp-content/uploads/08-11-2024-Letter-to-Council-of-Europe-Access-Info-Group.pdf"><span style="font-weight: 400;">here</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">). They’ve also been pushing forward working with MaDada in France and SPOON in Netherlands getting their legal reform work rolling. </span></p> <p><a href="https://expertisecentrumspoon.nl/"><b>SPOON</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Started 2025 with our focus for the new year: hitting the streets. One of the ways we will do this, is by launching a Woo-forum and proactively answer all questions we receive via that forum. This also means changing our workflow(s) from a ‘we know what you need’ to a ‘tell us what you need’ approach. And teaming up with other organisations and professionals on facilitating the needs that come forward from these questions, kicking off with mySociety participating in their Impact Measurement Mentorship program!</span></p> <p><a href="https://siecobywatelska.pl/"><b>Sieć Obywatelska Watchdog Polska</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: In December and January, we focused on several key initiatives, including expanding free legal support for SLAPP cases and seeking funding for this program. We worked to promote transparency in salaries, improve the process for selecting the new Head of the National Electoral Office, and streamline the management of asset declarations. Efforts were also made to enhance anti-SLAPP regulations and advocate for Poland’s membership in the Open Government Partnership. Additionally, we hosted a webinar on transparency with experts, published a new edition of the Transparency Report and other summaries, and released a podcast on Public Information Bulletins.</span></p> <p><a href="https://madada.fr/"><b>Ma Dada</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Ma Dada has been working together with Access Info on legal reform proposals for France, the result of which was just published. We have also been busy looking for funding, and training some more journalists to use the platform. Also, we officially left X/twitter because it is so far from our values that it didn’t make sense to stay there and try to fight an algorithm that is programmed to destroy everything we work for. You can do it too, and </span><a href="https://helloquittex.com"><span style="font-weight: 400;">https://helloquittex.com</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> will help you bring your community over to bluesky/mastodon in a few clicks.</span></p> <p><a href="https://transparencia.be/"><b>Transparencia</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: are exhausted by a SLAPP procedure ((Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation) A Maire from Brussels spent 48 000 € of public money in lawyers fees to defeat us in a second trial and ask for a non-disclosure clause of this huge public amount. This expensive lawyer has been contracted without public procurement. The blackmail (in case of disclosure of this amount) is to send bailiffs to our house.</span></p> <p><a href="https://www.arthro5a.gr/"><b>Vouliwatch/Arthro5A</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Had a meeting with the General Secretary of the Ministry of Interior and presented/discussed in detail our policy recommendations for the improvement of the access to information legal framework. </span></p> <p><a href="https://www.vreauinfo.md/en"><b>VreauInfo</b></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: and Access Info Europe have been working hard on recommendations for the FOI law in Moldova. Lawyers for Human Rights widely distributed the recommendations to the public and public bodies in Moldova and they were </span><a href="https://anticoruptie.md/preview?view=special&id=939&lang=ro&fbclid=IwY2xjawH_IaFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHVX028qb85-az2oecQw5EciaCX2mf_VhFzMwAcOuCJLVNZ1GXyC9suhfww_aem_jkB0qNR_0gvx0HQP88565A"><span style="font-weight: 400;">picked up by an Anti Corruption journalist who wrote a piece on their work</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. </span></p> <p><a href="https://abrimos.info/"><b>Abrimos Info</b></a><b>: </b>After the constitutional reform in México, the National Transparency Platform is transitioning from the autonomous body to the executive branch. Together with 200 orgs we published a text demanding data integrity during the transition. <a href="https://x.com/AbrimosInfo/status/1884759298326053098">In x</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/feed/update/urn:li:activity:7290525184699068418/">linkedin</a>. There is an <a href="https://x.com/buengobierno_mx/status/1883962098054750335">official release</a> by the executive branch mentioning cryptography for data integrity, likely because of our push.</p> <p style="text-align: right;">—</p> <div class="uUYIG" style="text-align: right;"> <div class="B81dJ ruzSi LnfBg"> <div class="uqkHb ufM77"> <div class="eUIaM"> <div class="qlF1A rapp2"><span class="Kvkr6 Pc_c1 BC51w">Photo: <a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/woman-in-white-and-black-shirt-GfzD8VEQ3P4">Vika Strawberrika</a></span></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div data-testid="photos-route"> <div class="_3E74b"> <div> <div class="z05NN Tpl4s"><header class="au9Mv L44vd nxjMA"> <div class="Pgpa9"> <div> <div class="xdDux" style="text-align: right;"> </div> </div> </div> </header></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <footer class="blog-post-footer"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--tag">Tagged</i><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/alaveteli-2/" rel="tag">alaveteli</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/freedom-of-information/" rel="tag">freedom of information</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/monthnotes/" rel="tag">monthnotes</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/transparency/" rel="tag">transparency</a> </div> </footer> </div> </li> <li> <div class="photo-topper photo-topper--cover-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.mysociety.org/files/2025/01/geograph-6368935-by-Alan-Murray-Rust.jpg');"> </div> <div class="canvas canvas--reduce-top-padding"> <header class="blog-post-header" id="post-55395"> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__title-and-meta"> <div class="blog-post-title-grid-unit"> <h2 class="mid-heading"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/01/31/borough-council-appreciates-what-they-learn-and-and-get-out-of-engaging-with-the-scorecards/" title="Permalink to Borough council appreciates what they “learn and and get out of engaging with the Scorecards”" rel="bookmark">Borough council appreciates what they “learn and and get out of engaging with the Scorecards”</a></h2> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=54&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=108&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-54 photo' height='54' width='54' loading='lazy'/> <div> <span class="blog-post-meta__label">Posted by</span> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/author/myfnixon/" class="blog-post-meta__author-name" title="Posts by Myfanwy" rel="author"> Myfanwy </a> <span class="blog-post-meta__date"> <time datetime="2025-01-31" pubdate>31st January 2025</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__categories-and-comments"> <div class="blog-post-categories-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--category">Posted in</i> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/climate/" rel="category tag">Climate</a> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta__comments">  </div> </div> <div class="blog-post-comments-grid-unit"> </div> </div> </header> <div class="wordpress-editor-content"> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Following a call out by Climate Emergency UK (CE UK) to councils across the UK that were using <a href="https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/">the Scorecards</a>, we were grateful that Gedling Borough Council responded and wanted to talk more. Annie from CE UK spoke to Sim Duhra, their Climate Change Manager, and learned about the current and potential uses of the Scorecards as they see it. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I started in this role at the end of 2022, so it wasn’t long after — Spring 2023 — that I was receiving emails from CE UK about the Right of Reply process for the first Council Climate Action Scorecards. I completed the Right of Reply both in 2023 and the most recent one; I have attended their webinars and made use of their website, too.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Gedling Borough Council is currently reviewing their Carbon Management Strategy and Action Plan and we are looking at how we can make our own actions SMARTer. The Scorecards offer further scrutiny, clarity and focus on those seven sections that we can learn from.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sim then went to talk more about how the Action Scorecards are useful, even for a small borough council. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I appreciate that it is an independent piece of work, the Scorecards. You are a completely separate organisation from the council. The comparison tool is interesting and we have made use of this too to see what other local authorities are doing. Although, we are a small borough council, and if we had more capacity, both in terms of staff and funding then we would be able to incorporate more best practice into our work in terms of climate action. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Although we could improve in some sections we are progressing in others, such as Collaboration & Engagement. The Planning section is useful as it is a good way to start a conversation with internal departments about what they are doing in relation to climate action within Planning. The questions and topics in the Scorecards give you gravitas to approach different departments internally and engage in conversation about what can be done in these departments for relevant bits of climate action. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We know that there is so much more than we need to do as a council on our journey to Net Zero, whilst also recognising that some things are out of our control in terms of the funding and resources that are available to us. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We appreciate that a lot of work goes into the Scorecards, including from councils when they respond to the Right of Reply and the FOI requests, but we do get something out of this work we put in which we recognise.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It was wonderful to put a human face to one of the many local councils in the UK and we really appreciate the time Sim took to talk to us: thank you! Scorecards are a joint project between mySociety and CE UK.</span></p> <p style="text-align: right;">—</p> <p style="text-align: right;">Image: <a href="https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/6368935">Alan Murray-Rust</a> (<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">CC by-sa/2.0</a>)</p> </div> <footer class="blog-post-footer"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--tag">Tagged</i><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/case-studies/" rel="tag">case studies</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/climate-action/" rel="tag">climate action</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/councils/" rel="tag">councils</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/scorecards/" rel="tag">scorecards</a> </div> </footer> </div> </li> <li> <div class="photo-topper photo-topper--cover-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.mysociety.org/files/2025/01/cirencester.jpg');"> </div> <div class="canvas canvas--reduce-top-padding"> <header class="blog-post-header" id="post-55391"> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__title-and-meta"> <div class="blog-post-title-grid-unit"> <h2 class="mid-heading"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/01/31/scorecards-empower-residents-to-get-involved-in-climate-action/" title="Permalink to Scorecards empower residents to get involved in climate action" rel="bookmark">Scorecards empower residents to get involved in climate action</a></h2> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=54&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=108&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-54 photo' height='54' width='54' loading='lazy'/> <div> <span class="blog-post-meta__label">Posted by</span> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/author/myfnixon/" class="blog-post-meta__author-name" title="Posts by Myfanwy" rel="author"> Myfanwy </a> <span class="blog-post-meta__date"> <time datetime="2025-01-31" pubdate>31st January 2025</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__categories-and-comments"> <div class="blog-post-categories-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--category">Posted in</i> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/climate/" rel="category tag">Climate</a> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta__comments">  </div> </div> <div class="blog-post-comments-grid-unit"> </div> </div> </header> <div class="wordpress-editor-content"> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In many of our recent case studies, we’ve seen how councils benefit from the </span><a href="https://councilclimatescorecards.uk/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Council Climate Action Scorecards</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> — but they are also of use to campaigners and residents who would like to fully understand, or perhaps get involved in, their local authority’s climate action. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We heard from a Cirencester resident about how information on their council’s climate action led them working together. It all began when they used the right that everyone has, to ask a question of their council: </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I used the Scorecard ratings of Cotswold District Council’s climate performance as the basis of a public question, which I put to a full council meeting last February (2024). </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This led to a one-to-one with the council’s Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Sustainability, and an initiative to form a residents’ group which would work directly with the council on specific climate issues. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“And so Cotswold Climate Action Network (C-CAN) was formed! There are currently 12 of us (ten residents and two councillors), my fellow residents being recruited by invitation from other Facebook-based climate action groups in the Cirencester area. We meet every eight weeks or so at the council offices and talk on WhatsApp in between.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Great stuff — so what sort of things is the group achieving together?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We’ve set up a number of sub-groups. One collaborates directly with the council on retrofit — that is, the adaptation of existing housing to be more efficient — together with the council’s newly appointed Retrofit Officer.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Another works on Public Transport and Active Travel, then we have a dedicated member area for 16-18s.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Are there plans to grow? </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Yes! We’ve just launched a </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61567060910915"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Facebook page</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to promote what we’re doing and recruit more members from across the Cotswolds. The aim is to widen our involvement in more climate and sustainability issues over whose outcome the council has influence.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“It’s really empowering: our group has the opportunity to be involved, and directly influence, Cotswold District Council’s climate actions. And it all began with that question based on the Scorecards.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We’re so pleased to see the Scorecards inspiring a resident to ask questions, and leading to such constructive collaboration with their council. Scorecards are a joint project between Climate Emergency UK and mySociety.</span></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> — </span></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: </span><a href="https://unsplash.com/photos/aerial-view-of-green-hill-and-trees-under-cloudy-sky-bba7hnLauzE"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Matt Seymour</span></a></p> </div> <footer class="blog-post-footer"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--tag">Tagged</i><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/case-studies/" rel="tag">case studies</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/climate-action/" rel="tag">climate action</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/councils/" rel="tag">councils</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/scorecards/" rel="tag">scorecards</a> </div> </footer> </div> </li> <li> <div class="photo-topper photo-topper--cover-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.mysociety.org/files/2025/01/Cambridgeshire_Guided_Busway_aerial_-_geograph.org_.uk_-_3085297.jpg');"> </div> <div class="canvas canvas--reduce-top-padding"> <header class="blog-post-header" id="post-55388"> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__title-and-meta"> <div class="blog-post-title-grid-unit"> <h2 class="mid-heading"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/01/31/how-scorecards-sparked-a-wave-of-carbon-literacy-training-at-south-cambs-council/" title="Permalink to How Scorecards sparked a wave of carbon literacy training at South Cambs Council" rel="bookmark">How Scorecards sparked a wave of carbon literacy training at South Cambs Council</a></h2> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=54&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=108&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-54 photo' height='54' width='54' loading='lazy'/> <div> <span class="blog-post-meta__label">Posted by</span> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/author/myfnixon/" class="blog-post-meta__author-name" title="Posts by Myfanwy" rel="author"> Myfanwy </a> <span class="blog-post-meta__date"> <time datetime="2025-01-31" pubdate>31st January 2025</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__categories-and-comments"> <div class="blog-post-categories-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--category">Posted in</i> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/climate/" rel="category tag">Climate</a> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta__comments">  </div> </div> <div class="blog-post-comments-grid-unit"> </div> </div> </header> <div class="wordpress-editor-content"> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Council Climate Action Scorecards are having tangible effects in councils across the UK, encouraging better, more effective climate action.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We recently asked councils to let us know what the Scorecards have done for them, and Luke Waddington, Climate and Environment Project Officer at South Cambridge District Council, answered the call. Pleasingly, the Scorecards have brought about carbon literacy training right across their workforce.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">As Luke explains, “In 2022 we received the climate scorecard for South Cambs, and it highlighted several areas for improvement in our Climate Action Plan. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“One of the gaps it identified was around climate awareness training for staff and councillors. Previously, we’d purchased externally provided carbon literacy training for a small number of colleagues within the Climate and Environment (C&E) team. While this helped to improve knowledge within the team, it wasn’t reaching colleagues in the wider organisation. Although these colleagues would come across climate change in their day-to-day roles, they weren’t necessarily fully equipped to champion it throughout their work.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“So, once CE UK highlighted this gap through the Scorecards, we were able to make the case to senior colleagues that there was a need for, and value in, investing staff time into skills and training on climate change.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“As a result, our 2023 business plan included an action to investigate and improve staff training on climate change. This culminated in an ongoing programme of Carbon Literacy training sessions, open to all colleagues and delivered by members of the Climate and Environment Team.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“We also recognise the need to provide Carbon Literacy training for councillors, and so held our first a member training session in November 2024.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That’s a great throughline from the Scorecards to positive impact.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Thanks to the Scorecards identifying this gap, our training programme is now helping us to embed an understanding of climate change throughout the organisation, stimulating climate action. And to prove it, we’ve been awarded Bronze Carbon Literate Organisation status — and are working toward Silver status.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“88 colleagues have now received carbon literacy training across the council, from new starters to our Chief Executive. These colleagues are now able to take their learning into their service areas and make changes or take actions to reduce their work-based emissions. Many of our departments have a large influence not only over carbon emissions produced by the organisation, but also those in the wider district.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“For instance, planning officers who are more aware of the impacts of climate change feel more empowered to encourage developers to incorporate more sustainable design and construction methods. Newbuild housing officers can better improve the sustainable credentials of the council houses they build, and our business support team are better equipped to advise local enterprises on the benefits and advantages of carbon reduction for their business.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Furthermore, having the training delivered internally by colleagues strengthens ties between the C&E team and other departments, opening dialogue between us and making us more accessible for colleagues seeking advice on carbon reduction at home or within the workplace. Basically, helping to break down silos.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Thanks so much to Luke for sharing the experiences from South Cambs: it’s great to see such a direct and positive impact. The Scorecards are a joint project between mySociety and Climate Emergency UK. </span></p> <p> </p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-weight: 400;"> —</span></p> <p style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: </span><a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cambridgeshire_Guided_Busway,_aerial_-_geograph.org.uk_-_3085297.jpg"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Chris</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> (</span><a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CC by-sa/2.0</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">)</span></p> </div> <footer class="blog-post-footer"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--tag">Tagged</i><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/case-studies/" rel="tag">case studies</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/climate-action/" rel="tag">climate action</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/councils/" rel="tag">councils</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/scorecards/" rel="tag">scorecards</a> </div> </footer> </div> </li> <li> <div class="photo-topper photo-topper--cover-image" style="background-image: url('https://www.mysociety.org/files/2025/01/mariejte-scaled.jpg');"> </div> <div class="canvas canvas--reduce-top-padding"> <header class="blog-post-header" id="post-55383"> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__title-and-meta"> <div class="blog-post-title-grid-unit"> <h2 class="mid-heading"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/01/30/tictec-2025-keynote-announcement-marietje-schaake/" title="Permalink to TICTeC 2025 keynote announcement: Marietje Schaake" rel="bookmark">TICTeC 2025 keynote announcement: Marietje Schaake</a></h2> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta"> <img alt='' src='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=54&d=mm&r=g' srcset='https://secure.gravatar.com/avatar/ba0b862e4dbd7720e0352d93ecc78bd9?s=108&d=mm&r=g 2x' class='avatar avatar-54 photo' height='54' width='54' loading='lazy'/> <div> <span class="blog-post-meta__label">Posted by</span> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/author/myfnixon/" class="blog-post-meta__author-name" title="Posts by Myfanwy" rel="author"> Myfanwy </a> <span class="blog-post-meta__date"> <time datetime="2025-01-30" pubdate>30th January 2025</time> </span> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="grid-row blog-post-header__categories-and-comments"> <div class="blog-post-categories-grid-unit"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--category">Posted in</i> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/events/" rel="category tag">Events</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/tictec/" rel="category tag">TICTeC</a> </div> <div class="blog-post-meta__comments">  </div> </div> <div class="blog-post-comments-grid-unit"> </div> </div> </header> <div class="wordpress-editor-content"> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Every year at TICTeC, we strive to find keynote speakers that can speak directly to the present moment for the civic tech field. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At a time when tech and democracy are becoming ever more entwined, we’re delighted that </span><b>Marietje Schaake </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">will be kicking off the first day of proceedings at TICTeC.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marietje is a former Member of the European Parliament, a Fellow at Stanford’s Cyber Policy Center and the Institute for Human-Centered AI, a columnist for the Financial Times and author of </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Tech Coup: How to Save Democracy from Silicon Valley</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> — one of the ‘top ten tech books’ of 2024.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Marietje will explore the delicate balance of our age, between the good that tech can do for democracy, and the dangers of letting self-interested tech giants dominate the field. It serves us to examine how authoritarian regimes are using tech, and to ask, can democracies reclaim sovereignty and stand up for the interests of citizens? Do we require more oversight and regulation in both tech and democracy, and if so, how can this be built to allow other kinds of tech to flourish?</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The spirit of the ‘civic internet’ is what brought our community together: TICTeC is one place where principles of openness, democracy and engagement still burn brightly. Marietje’s keynote will help us consider the underlying questions around the future for the civic tech field, both for the immediate tomorrow, and for the longterm outlook.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This will be a keynote you don’t want to miss, so be sure to secure your place at </span><a href="https://tictec.mysociety.org/event/tictec-2025-mechelen-online/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TICTeC</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> — in person or online. </span><a href="https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-impacts-of-civic-technology-conference-tictec-2025-hybrid-event-tickets-1068977603789?aff=oddtdtcreator"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Book here</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">: tickets remain at earlybird prices until March 3.</span></p> <p style="text-align: right;">—</p> <p style="text-align: right;">Image: <a href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:MSC_2020_Marietje_Schaake.jpg">Sicherheitskonferenz</a> (<a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0">CC BY-SA 4.0</a>, via Wikimedia Commons)</p> </div> <footer class="blog-post-footer"> <div class="blog-post-meta__categories"> <i class="blog-icon blog-icon--tag">Tagged</i><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/democracy/" rel="tag">democracy</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/tictec/" rel="tag">TICTeC</a>, <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/tag/tictec-2025/" rel="tag">tictec 2025</a> </div> </footer> </div> </li> </ol> <nav id="pagination-controls"> <h3 class="visuallyhidden">Post navigation</h3> <div class="nav-previous"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/blog/page/2/" >Older posts</a></div> <div class="nav-next"></div> </nav> </main> </div> <div class="secondary-column secondary-column--less-top"> <div id="block-7" class="sidebar sidebar--blog widget widget_block"><div id="cta_widget-3" class="sidebar sidebar--blog widget cta-widget"> <p class="cta-widget__text"> </p><h2>Like what we do?</h2><br> <h3>Your donations help us run sites that get things changed.</h3> <p></p> <p><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/donate/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=side_widget&how-often=recurring" class="button button--red" style="width:90%">Donate £10 a month</a></p> <p><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/donate/?utm_source=blog&utm_medium=side_widget" class="button button--red" style="width:90%">Make a one-off donation</a></p> </div></div><div id="block-6" class="sidebar sidebar--blog widget widget_block"><div> <div class="mailchimp-signup__intro"> <h2>Sign up to our newsletter</h2> <p>Our monthly newsletter keep you up to date with our work and plans for the future.</p> </div> <form action="//mysociety.us9.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=53d0d2026dea615ed488a8834&id=287dc28511" method="post" novalidate=""> <div style="position: absolute; left: -5000px;"> <input type="text" name="b_53d0d2026dea615ed488a8834_287dc28511" tabindex="-1" value=""> </div> <p class="mailchimp-signup__inline-inputs"> <input type="email" name="EMAIL" placeholder="you@email.com" aria-label="Email address"><br> <input type="submit" name="subscribe" value="Subscribe" class="button"> </p> <fieldset class="mailchimp-signup__interests"><input type="hidden" name="group[11745][32]" value="1"></fieldset> <p></p> </form> </div></div><div id="block-3" class="sidebar sidebar--blog widget widget_block"><ul class="mysoc-footer__badges sidebar__badges"><li role=presentation><a class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--github"href=https://github.com/mysociety>Github</a><li role=presentation><a class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--bluesky"href=https://bsky.app/profile/mysociety.org>bluesky</a><li role=presentation><a class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--linkedin"href=https://www.linkedin.com/company/mysociety>LinkedIn</a><li role=presentation><a class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--facebook"href=https://facebook.com/mySociety>Facebook</a><li role=presentation><a class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--twitter"href=https://twitter.com/mysociety>Twitter</a><li role=presentation><a class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--instagram"href=https://www.instagram.com/mysociety_org/ >Instagram</a><li role=presentation><a class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--tiktok"href=https://www.tiktok.com/@mysociety0>tiktok</a></ul></div> <div id="recent-posts-2" class="sidebar sidebar--blog widget widget_recent_entries"> <h2>Recent Posts</h2> <ul> <li> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/26/the-scale-of-the-challenge-might-sometimes-feel-overwhelming-but-its-possible-to-break-it-down/">“The scale of the challenge might sometimes feel overwhelming, but it’s possible to break it down”</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/25/tictec-2025-is-going-ahead-as-planned/">TICTeC 2025 is going ahead as planned</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/10/tictec-2025-keynote-announcement-fernanda-campagnucci/">TICTeC 2025 keynote announcement: Fernanda Campagnucci</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/06/the-action-scorecards-help-staff-justify-climate-action/">The Action Scorecards help staff justify climate action</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/06/the-scorecards-show-councils-what-good-looks-like/">The Scorecards show councils what ‘good’ looks like</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/02/04/january-2025-news-from-the-ati-network/">January 2025 News from the ATI Network</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/01/31/borough-council-appreciates-what-they-learn-and-and-get-out-of-engaging-with-the-scorecards/">Borough council appreciates what they “learn and and get out of engaging with the Scorecards”</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/01/31/scorecards-empower-residents-to-get-involved-in-climate-action/">Scorecards empower residents to get involved in climate action</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/01/31/how-scorecards-sparked-a-wave-of-carbon-literacy-training-at-south-cambs-council/">How Scorecards sparked a wave of carbon literacy training at South Cambs Council</a> </li> <li> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/2025/01/30/tictec-2025-keynote-announcement-marietje-schaake/">TICTeC 2025 keynote announcement: Marietje Schaake</a> </li> </ul> </div><div id="categories-2" class="sidebar sidebar--blog widget widget_categories"><h2>Categories</h2> <ul> <li class="cat-item cat-item-580"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/transparency/alaveteli/">Alaveteli</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-482"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/transparency/alaveteli/alaveteli-professional/">Alaveteli Professional</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-649"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/climate/">Climate</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-19"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/commentary/">Commentary</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-17"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/commercial-services/">Commercial services</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-461"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/community/">Community</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-488"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/democracy/">Democracy</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-424"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/design/">Design</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-85"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/events/">Events</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-31"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/community/fixmystreet/">FixMyStreet</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-552"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/commercial-services/foi_for_councils/">FOI Works</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-16"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/developers/">For Developers / Technical</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-10"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/international/">International</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-162"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/community/mapit/">MapIt</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-63"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/news/">News</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-440"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/open-source-civic-tech/">Open source civic tech</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-723"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/research/policy/">Policy</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-772"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/repowering-democracy/" title="This year we will be publishing a series of short pieces of writing from our staff, and external contributors who think deeply about how our democracy works and are at the frontlines of trying to improve it. Learn more about this series. [mailchimp-signup general="suggested" democracy="required" title="" intro="You can new posts as an email in your inbox, weekly: "]">Repowering Democracy</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-344"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/research/">Research</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-696"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/community/societyworks/">SocietyWorks</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-45"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/democracy/theyworkforyou/">TheyWorkForYou</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-675"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/tictec/">TICTeC</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-68"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/transparency/">Transparency</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-33"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/transparency/whatdotheyknow/">WhatDoTheyKnow</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-805"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/democracy/who-funds-them/" title="Below are the latest updates on our WhoFundsThem project looking into MPs’ and APPGs’ financial interests. We want to make better data available, and improve the standard of politics in the UK. Learn more">WhoFundsThem</a> </li> <li class="cat-item cat-item-34"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/category/democracy/writetothem/">WriteToThem</a> </li> </ul> </div><div id="text-2" class="sidebar sidebar--blog widget widget_text"><h2>RSS feeds</h2> <div class="textwidget"><ul> <li><a href="http://www.mysociety.org/feed/" title="Syndicate this site using RSS 2.0">Entries <abbr title="Really Simple Syndication">RSS</abbr></a></li> <li><a href="http://www.mysociety.org/comments/feed/" title="The latest comments to all posts in RSS">Comments <abbr title="Really Simple Syndication">RSS</abbr></a></li> </ul></div> </div></div> </div> </div> <footer class="mysoc-footer" role="contentinfo"> <div class="container"> <h2 class="mysoc-footer__site-name">mySociety</h2> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="col-sm-4"> <div class="mysoc-footer__site-description"> <p>mySociety is a not-for-profit social enterprise, based in the UK but working with partners internationally. We build and share digital technologies that help people be active citizens, across the three areas of <a href="/democracy">Democracy</a>, <a href="/transparency">Transparency</a>, and <a href="/community">Community</a>.</p> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-5"> <nav class="mysoc-footer__links"> <ul id="menu-tertiary-footer-menu" class="menu"><li id="menu-item-20940" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-20940"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/about/">About</a></li> <li id="menu-item-21111" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-21111"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/about/careers/">Careers</a></li> <li id="menu-item-42894" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-42894"><a title="Code of Conduct" href="https://www.mysociety.org/code-of-conduct/">Code of Conduct</a></li> <li id="menu-item-20944" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-20944"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/contact/">Contact</a></li> <li id="menu-item-41990" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-41990"><a href="http://data.mysociety.org/">Data and APIs</a></li> <li id="menu-item-47676" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-47676"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/environment-policy/">Environment policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-50624" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-50624"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/equity-diversity-and-inclusion-policy/">Equity, diversity & inclusion</a></li> <li id="menu-item-21144" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-21144"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/subscribe/">Newsletters</a></li> <li id="menu-item-20979" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-20979"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/press/">Press</a></li> <li id="menu-item-28489" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-28489"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/privacy/">Privacy policy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-54484" class="menu-item menu-item-type-custom menu-item-object-custom menu-item-54484"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/about/strategy/">Strategy</a></li> <li id="menu-item-38518" class="menu-item menu-item-type-post_type menu-item-object-page menu-item-38518"><a href="https://www.mysociety.org/united-nations-sustainable-development-goals/">Sustainable Development</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> <div class="col-sm-3"> <div class="mysoc-footer__donate"> <p>We are a charity – support our mission to put more power in more people’s hands so that together we can build a fairer, safer future</p> <a href="https://www.mysociety.org/donate?utm_source=mysociety.org&utm_content=footer+donate+now&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=mysoc_footer" class="mysoc-footer__donate__button"> 🤍 Donate now</a> </div> </div> </div> <hr class="mysoc-footer__divider" role="presentation"> <div class="grid-row"> <div class="col-sm-6"> <div class="mysoc-footer__legal"> <p> mySociety is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) and a limited company (03277032). We provide commercial services through our wholly owned subsidiary <a href="https://www.societyworks.org">SocietyWorks Ltd</a> (05798215). </p> </div> </div> <div class="col-sm-6"> <ul class="mysoc-footer__badges"> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://github.com/mysociety" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--github">Github</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/mysociety.org" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--bluesky">bluesky</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/mysociety" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--linkedin">LinkedIn</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://facebook.com/mySociety" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--facebook">Facebook</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://twitter.com/mysociety" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--twitter">Twitter</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/mysociety_org/" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--instagram">Instagram</a></li> <li role="presentation"><a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@mysociety0" class="mysoc-footer__badge mysoc-footer__badge--tiktok">tiktok</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/core.min.js?ver=1.13.1' id='jquery-ui-core-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/ui/datepicker.min.js?ver=1.13.1' id='jquery-ui-datepicker-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' id='jquery-ui-datepicker-js-after'> jQuery(function(jQuery){jQuery.datepicker.setDefaults({"closeText":"Close","currentText":"Today","monthNames":["January","February","March","April","May","June","July","August","September","October","November","December"],"monthNamesShort":["Jan","Feb","Mar","Apr","May","Jun","Jul","Aug","Sep","Oct","Nov","Dec"],"nextText":"Next","prevText":"Previous","dayNames":["Sunday","Monday","Tuesday","Wednesday","Thursday","Friday","Saturday"],"dayNamesShort":["Sun","Mon","Tue","Wed","Thu","Fri","Sat"],"dayNamesMin":["S","M","T","W","T","F","S"],"dateFormat":"MM d, yy","firstDay":1,"isRTL":false});}); </script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/scripts/fitvids.js?ver=1656423684' id='fitvids-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/scripts/social-sharing.js?ver=1656423684' id='mysociety-social-sharing-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/scripts/analytics.js?ver=1686660156' id='mysociety-analytics-js'></script> <script type='text/javascript' src='https://www.mysociety.org/wp-content/themes/mysociety-new/assets/scripts/mysociety.js?ver=1725869074' id='mysociety-js'></script> </body> </html>