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Net zero will transform the UK economy - our map reveals the most vulnerable places

Ed Atkins and Sean Fox, University of Bristol

26 February 2026 • 6 min read

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The borough of Kirklees in West Yorkshire tops the net zero vulnerability index | Credit: iStock

The most vulnerable places are, overwhelmingly, the same places that suffered industrial decline in the 1980s, according to research by Ed Atkins and Sean Fox from the University of Bristol

Here's an uncomfortable truth: even as Britain makes the welcome transition to net zero, some communities will lose jobs and face economic disruption. And the places most exposed are overwhelmingly the...

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The most vulnerable places are, overwhelmingly, the same places that suffered industrial decline in the 1980s, according to research by Ed Atkins and Sean Fox from the University of Bristol﻿

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More on Work

'Hard to fill': How engineering skills shortages pose a threat to the green economy

Can Scotland learn from past mistakes to deliver a 'just transition' for its industrial base?

How the green economy can inspire the next generation of engineers

The most vulnerable places are, overwhelmingly, the same places that suffered industrial decline in the 1980s, according to research by Ed Atkins and Sean Fox from the University of Bristol