S3E04: Closing the net zero divide: how do we ensure no community is left behind?

About this episode

The episode discusses the challenges and opportunities in achieving net zero while ensuring no community is left behind.

Welcome to season 3 of AECOM’s Talking Infrastructure podcast. Talking Infrastructure delves into the industry’s hot topics, key projects, and the ground-breaking innovations that are helping to solve some of the world’s most complex infrastructure challenges. We'll be discussing everything from driving cost and time efficiencies within the rail industry to the importance of collaboration in bringing hydrogen projects forward. Episode 4: Closing the net zero divide: how do we ensure no community is left behind? For this episode, our host James Banks is joined by Emma Fletcher, Low Carbon Homes Director at Octopus Energy and Helena Rivers, AECOM’s net zero lead for the built environment to discuss the challenges and opportunities in achieving net zero. From the importance of retrofitting homes and buildings to enhance energy efficiency to the latest green technology improving heat networks, our speakers explore how we can reduce the carbon footprint of our built environment – and why a people-centric approach is key. Central to the conversation is how we can meet our climate goals whilst addressing the disparities and inequalities between communities to ensure that no one is left…

People in this episode

Host: James Banks

Guests: Emma Fletcher, Helena Rivers

Topics covered

• net zero
• energy efficiency
• sustainability
• community engagement
• green technology
• retrofitting

Keywords

• net zero
• energy efficiency
• sustainability
• green technology
• community disparities
• retrofitting
• climate goals

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Octopus Energy, AECOM

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• S5E02: Private finance as a catalyst for infrastructure growth: the airport advantage · April 14, 2026 · 48 min
• S5E01: The resilience test: is our infrastructure climate-ready? · March 17, 2026 · 41 min
• S4E03 :Future-ready infrastructure: Addressing the STEM skills crisis · July 25, 2025 · 38 min