Business
Closing sustainability’s funding gap
Richard Mackintosh, co-founder of Reset Connect, explains why London Climate Action Week provides the perfect backdrop for a disruptive new climate gathering.
28 April 2022
This article first appeared in our World Environment Day 2026 issue of My Green Pod Magazine, published 05 June 2026. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
The UK’s green economy is currently defined by a unique paradox: on one hand we are witnessing an unprecedented wave of corporate and public sector commitment; on the other, the ‘implementation gap’ – the distance between setting a 2030 target and actually achieving it – remains the most significant challenge on the leadership table.
For government officials, policymakers and public sector leaders, this gap represents a fundamental delivery challenge for the nation’s infrastructure and energy transition.
Taking place at Excel London, Reset Connect has established itself as the flagship event of London Climate Action Week. It serves as a high-functioning ecosystem where ‘intentional collisions’ between finance, policy and technology happen in real time to tackle the implementation gap at its roots.
The event brings together more than 7,500 sustainability, energy, finance and policy professionals, plus roughly 300 exhibitors and 2,500 investors.
Over two days, attendees will hear from 400 visionary speakers driving real climate action. The stellar lineup features influential pioneers and policymakers, including Emma Pinchbeck (chief executive of the Climate Change Committee), Asad Rehman (chief executive of Friends of the Earth), Susan Aitken (Leader, Glasgow City Council) and corporate sustainability champions from the Woodland Trust, IKEA and KPMG.
Those attending will get a complete, 360-degree view of the transition: they will see policy and passion on stage, and then find the tools and partners to replicate it on the exhibition floor.
Trillions of pounds in capital are waiting to be invested into the net-zero transition, yet the link between institutional investors and viable projects is often fragile. This is particularly true for local authorities and government bodies looking to fund large-scale retrofitting or energy projects.
The conversation in the boardroom and the council chamber has shifted; instead of debating the ‘why’ of climate action, leaders are grappling with three practical barriers: capital, collaboration and scalability.
Reset Connect London 2026 has been designed to dismantle these hurdles across six main stages, to ensure every facet of the transition is addressed.
Through its Finance & Investment Stage and the Pitch & Invest Programme, Reset Connect is moving away from theoretical discussions and towards real deal -making. Whether it is a startup seeking seed funding or a public-private partnership looking for large-scale infrastructure investment, this is where the green economy gets funded.
Click here to register for your pass to Reset Connect London 2026.
Decarbonising a supply chain or retrofitting a city isn’t something an organisation can do alone; it requires genuine cross-sector collaboration and a deep understanding of the evolving regulatory landscape.
Reset Connect’s eight show-floor hubs, ranging from Tech & AI to Nature & Food Systems, are where these partnerships are made.
Supported by headline sponsor KPMG, these hubs allow CEOs, CSOs and government directors to build partnerships with the engineers and innovators driving the next decade of regulation.
For government business leaders, this provides a unique opportunity to align procurement strategies with the latest technological breakthroughs, ensuring that public spending drives sustainable growth.
Reset Connect’s Pitch & Invest competition will invite impact-driven founders to take to the stage in front of active investors, with the winner going on to represent the UK at the Startup World Cup.
With more than 300 exhibitors on the floor at Excel London, this is where government teams can find the solutions, technologies and partners they need to meet their net-zero commitments. All under one roof, in two days.
In 2026, the ‘wait and see’ approach to sustainability is no longer a neutral stance; from evolving ESG and SDR reporting requirements to the impact of climate change on national infrastructure, the cost of inaction is rising.
Reset Connect brings together the clarity, connections and solutions needed to stay ahead – whether you’re navigating new legislation, sourcing green tech or building partnerships that will define your net-zero strategy.
As 2030 targets draw closer, government has a critical role to play in creating the conditions where green innovation can take root and scale.
Reset Connect is where policy meets practice. Attendees will gain vital insights into up-to-the-minute policy updates, sustainable procurement to embed social value into contracts and strategies for urban resilience.
Join the government and business community at Excel London, 23-24 June 2026, and turn inspiration into action. The transition to a low-carbon economy is the greatest commercial and civic opportunity of our generation; at Reset Connect you will find the partners, technologies and capital to make it happen.
Richard Mackintosh, co-founder of Reset Connect, explains why London Climate Action Week provides the perfect backdrop for a disruptive new climate gathering.
Duncan Reid, co-founder of Reset Connect London, shares easy ways to support World Environment Day.
The event that combines climate solutions, real connections & capital with purpose.
