CivicNetZero was born out of a simple, persistent problem. Cities around the world have clear climate ambitions but too often lack a fast, structured way to connect those ambitions with the capital and capability needed to deliver at scale. The idea began with Lord Marvin Rees, who saw this challenge firsthand as Mayor of Bristol. Despite strong political will and growing investor interest, turning city plans into funded, delivery-ready projects remained slow, fragmented and resource intensive. Marvin recognised that the right use of AI could fundamentally change this. To turn the concept into a scalable, trusted platform, Marvin partnered with Tom Ilube, an experienced technology entrepreneur with deep expertise in building and governing mission driven platforms. Together, they formed CivicNetZero; a city-led, practitioner built company designed to move climate action from ambition to execution. Mark Apsey added a critical dimension: delivery. Decarbonisation only happens when engineers, developers and delivery partners are brought into the system early and not bolted on at the end. The platform had to work for those who actually build and operate infrastructure, not just those who plan or finance it. From the outset, CivicNetZero has been supported by a Strategic Council of globally recognised city leaders, climate practitioners and technologists. Their role is to challenge assumptions, ground the platform in real world delivery, and ensure it remains ethical, practical and focused on impact. CivicNetZero exists to help cities deliver what they’ve already committed to but faster, smarter and at scale.