North Star Transition’s partners
UCL Climate Action Unit
University College London’s Climate Action Unit, chaired by Prof. Chris Rapley and led by Dr Kris de Meyer, aims to bring about systemic change in how scientists, policymakers, business, the public, media and civil society engage with each other about climate change in order to accelerate the uptake of climate action and the transition to net zero. We are pleased to announce that the Climate Action Unit has chosen to partner with North Star Transition. Here’s how they describe their work:
“We are pleased to act as a resource supporting the work of North Star Transition. We provide specialised facilitation support for individuals and groups who are navigating the complexity of cross-sector collaboration. Our unit brings together experts in climate science, climate change, engagement, communications, neuroscience and psychology. We design practical interventions to support groups with different types of knowledge and expertise to 'co-produce' new solutions to climate-related challenges.
Our work focuses on two areas:
support organisations and communities to deliver concrete climate-positive action suitable to their context
improve the way climate risk information drives decision making in policy and business
We work for and with government departments (e.g. BEIS, DEFRA); local councils (through the Local Government Association); international policy think tanks (Chatham House); universities; local communities and civil society organisations.”
Mott MacDonald
Mott MacDonald and North Star Transition have announced a partnership aiming to develop collaborative initiatives that address social inequality and the climate and biodiversity crises.
The partnership will create an integrated approach to enact and impact change at the systemic level, by bringing together North Star Transition’s experience in business, finance, and its unique Transition Lab capability with Mott MacDonald’s infrastructure, environmental and digital expertise. Both companies share the same vision and ambition for systems change and will use their joint knowledge and experience to bridge the gaps between businesses, communities, the environment, infrastructure assets and developments.
“We believe that to really affect change, solutions cannot be piecemeal. They must be applied system-wide and at scale,” said Brendan Bromwich, technical principal for systems thinking at Mott MacDonald.
Mott MacDonald and North Star Transition will develop responses to multi-faceted challenges and offer a way to tackle the complex problems faced today.
Apella Advisors
Apella Advisors and North Star Transition have formed a strategic partnership to support the business and investment communities work together on system change to create and develop a more regenerative world. The partnership’s initial collaboration centres on constructing new ways to finance landscape transformation.
Working together, and especially by using the power of communication - listening as much as broadcasting – the two firms are helping bridge the worlds of finance, business and the environment, to tackle climate, biodiversity and social crises. We will do this by encouraging previously disconnected stakeholders such as farmers, financiers, environmental activists, utilities and corporates to unite around and activate shared ambitions. In doing so, we are putting purpose into action.
Apella helps organisations grow and succeed by making changes for the better, using the power of purpose, reputation, and communications. We do this by working with clients to devise and deliver engagement strategies for a broad range of stakeholders and those that influence them, including the media, internal audiences, policymakers, and regulators.
Apella Partner Jenny Scott said: “Apella and North Star Transition have been working together for some time so I am absolutely delighted we’re now entering a formal partnership. Apella’s experience, expertise and use of data to advise across finance and business, combined with North Star Transition’s innovative thinking and deep networks in sustainability, enable us to bring together both worlds to catalyse change. Solving our climate, biodiversity and social crises will take collaboration across every sector; we’re thrilled we can play our part in making that happen.”
Fera Science Limited
Fera Science Limited (Fera) and North Star Transition are in a partnership to work together to address the most urgent environmental and societal challenges of our time. This partnership unites Fera’s deep scientific expertise and evidence-based rigour with North Star Transition’s pioneering approach to systems change - creating a dynamic platform for innovation and transformative impact. Together, Fera and North Star Transition aim to co-develop scalable solutions that close the gap between leading-edge science and practical implementation. Fera’s scientific excellence will be paired with North Star Transition’s systemic methodologies to deliver resilient, regenerative strategies across industries and sectors.
Royal Agricultural Society of England
Innovation for Agriculture
.North Star Transition is in partnership with the Royal Agricultural Society of England and its sister organisation, Innovation for Agriculture to spark the development and widespread adoption of a resilient and profitable farming system across the UK.
The current farming system is facing significant challenges. Decades of policies and practices have prioritised yield and production over long-term resilience, profitability for farmers, and sustainability. Environmental degradation – especially of soil health, which is a farmer’s most vital asset – has become widespread.
Climate change, volatile input markets, and a shifting economic landscape have further strained the system. As a result, underperforming farms not only face ongoing financial hardship but also contribute to broader risks such as food insecurity, water pollution, biodiversity loss, and increased vulnerability to geopolitical shocks.
Despite mounting pressure and the clear need for change, efforts to reform the system have largely been unsuccessful. Barriers such as an over-reliance on top-down policies rather than farm-level solutions, and a short-term focus have all impeded meaningful progress.
Many farmers are now confronting a difficult choice: accept a managed decline of their business, exit the farming sector altogether, or embrace significant changes in their practices.
North Star Transition, together with the Royal Agricultural Society of England and Innovation for Agriculture, is committed to supporting farmers who wish to choose the path of resilience and profitability.