Meet the Innovator – Decarbonisation of transport

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Overview

The UK has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 90% by 2050. Achieving this target requires transformative action across all sectors, with the public sector playing a vital leadership role in driving change. Success hinges on accelerating the adoption and diffusion of innovative products and services that are driving progress towards net zero. The public sector is uniquely positioned to drive place-based progress, not only by adopting these solutions but also by creating an environment for test beds and trials for products and services which are still in the development and testing stage.

About this event

Transport is the backbone of modern society, enabling the movement of people and goods. However, the sector is the highest contributor to carbon emissions, accounting for 26% of the UK’s total emissions. Furthermore, each local authority in the UK emits, on average 204 kilotonnes of CO2e from transport, highlighting the urgent need for innovative solutions to decarbonise this critical sector.

This session will showcase the innovative businesses whose products and services are helping local authorities across the UK to reduce their transport related carbon footprint.

Event speakers

• • Pooya Kamvari, Founder and CEO, Homerun

HomeRun offers innovative, data-led, software products that enable local authorities to efficiently manage and reduce the impacts of the school run on their communities and the environment. HomeRun has a proven track record of increasing sustainable travel to school and support local authorities including Wiltshire, Camden, and Essex.

• • Tom Pigden, Commercial Director, Optrak

Optrak is a route optimisation software developer and consultancy service provider to commercial and public sector organisations, focusing on decarbonisation and fleet rationalisation programmes. Our current projects with Innovate UK and regional funding bodies include development of software tools to:

• • • Dynamically plan eRCVs to help local authorities transition their domestic waste collection fleets to EVs
    • Provide transport behaviour analysis for councils, to identify changes to policy which reduce mileage/emissions.
  • David Smith, Founder and Director, Calcommuter

CalCommuter is an intelligent commute survey platform that helps organisations measure, report, and reduce their commuting and homeworking emissions. CalCommuter was developed through the ‘Commute 2 Net Zero’ project, in collaboration with East Lothian Council, funded by the Innovate UK Net Zero Living programme.

The platform enables employers to gather employee travel data, analyse emissions hotspots, and provide employees with personalised commute travel plans to identify viable alternatives and cut carbon footprints.

David will share how CalCommuter is helping organisations track and reduce Scope 3 emissions, develop data-driven workplace travel strategies, and drive sustainable commuting behaviour change.

Who should watch?

Local Authorities looking to find out about the cutting-edge solutions driving the net-zero transition.

Why should you watch?

Each webinar will provide a unique opportunity to hear from innovative businesses whose products or solutions can be used by the public sector to decarbonise, and discover how these innovators can support your Net Zero goals.

Even if you’re not ready to collaborate with businesses in these areas, join us to be inspired by the talent that is driving the UK’s Net Zero future.

About this series

Running from February to April 2025, the Meet the Innovator webinar series will focus on four key themes where carbon reduction needs to accelerate, and therefore where innovation adoption and diffusion is key. These thematic areas are closely aligned with local authorities’ spheres of control and influence:

• 24 February 2025: Decarbonisation of buildings and the public estate (recording and slides available)
• 17 March 2025: Decarbonisation of transport (recording and slides available)
• 7 April 2025: Consumption and the circular economy (recording and slides available)
• 28 April 2025: Biodiversity