In this policy brief we discuss the need to embed the net zero agenda in small-scale regions, to allow citizens to co-create solutions that are locally relevant. We demonstrate this with evidence from a British Academy-funded project that used adapted “Climathons” as a method to debate food and farming solutions in two UK rural farming regions. This approach was effective in convening rural land use stakeholders, providing space for constructive dialogue, strengthening existing networks and partnerships, and generating locally relevant net zero solutions that are being progressed beyond the event
