Global temperatures are on track to exceed 2C. The effects of Climate Change are already happening. How will your business take Climate Action?
The Gloucestershire Business and Economy Meeting, chaired by Ian Mean, Director of Business West Gloucestershire brought together leading figures from the Gloucester businesses community who are paving the way on Climate Action. It was an opportunity for members to share their approach to reducing carbon and adapting their business for a Net Zero world.
Ian kicked off the meeting asking How will business pay for Net Zero? A question he recently put forward to local MP Siobhan Baillie. He shared her response which confirmed that as of yet, there is no funding available to support businesses to make changes to reach Net Zero.
With Stroud being a hub of environmentalism, this is an opportunity to understand how businesses surrounding this town are facing up to Climate Change.
Lead with your values
Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricity was first to speak. Based in Stroud, he is quiet possibly the best known eco-entrepreneur in the country. He began Ecotricity 25 years ago with a single turbine, today Ecotricity supplies 200,000 business and domestic customers electricity from 100% renewable sources, 20% of which is generated by Ecotricity's sun and wind parks. A serial entrepreneur, he set up (and recently sold) an EV charging network, owns Forest Green Rovers, known as the greenest football club in the world, his latest venture is to create artificial diamonds by chemical vapor deposition using "carbon dioxide captured directly from the atmosphere to form the diamonds – which are chemically identical to diamonds mined from the earth – using wind and solar electricity, with water collected from rainfall.
When asked How can small businesses go down this pathway without spending loads of money? Dale suggested businesses need to keep it SIMPLE and focus on 3 key areas: energy, transport, and food. This means thinking about:
1. How you travel – travel less, use sustainable modes.
2. How you power your business – generate your own renewable energy or change to a renewable tariff supplier.
3. What you eat – cut out carbon intensive food, eat more plant-based options.
Known for his love of fast cars and bikes, Dale was asked ow did he travel to work? His reply, by his electric motorbike. It’s important that business leaders practice what they preach.
His key message for businesses is to look at where you’re spending money, then work out how to use less, waste less and source what you do need sustainably. Going Net Zero is not about making sacrifices, its about finding a better way, and having fun on the way.
When asked what government should do, Dale believes that they need to do something fundamental - taxes, subsidies, and regulations could help businesses make necessary change.
Share your progress and learn from others
Next on the panel was Nina Skubala, Head of Climate Change at Business West, her views are businesses are ready to take Climate Action but paying for the necessary changes is a barrier to progress.
She shared the results of the recent Business West Economic Survey, where 70% of businesses said that they consider Climate Change a business issue with 45% already implementing measures to reduce their emissions with another 31% wanting to take action.
Climate Action was found to be largely driven by the values of the business owner, followed by client and staff expectations. With the main barriers to progress being short term cashflow issues (30%), competing priorities (26%), lack of knowledge (25%), and changing policies and regulations (24%).
To accelerate progress to Net Zero, her take was: ‘Businesses learn best from other businesses’. She explained that Business West had recently launched a Trading To Net Zero hub as a way to share their own journey to Net Zero and provide access to relevant resources that will help businesses, particularly SMEs to take climate action. The hub offers an online space for businesses to share their progress – be it reducing emissions, adapting to a changing climate, protecting and enhancing biodiversity, creating products and services that will address the climate crisis.
Paying for Net Zero remains a challenge, she was part of the C7 conference ahead of the G7 which saw Chambers of Commerce’s pen a letter to the Prime Minister calling for more support for businesses.
Understand the numbers
Scott Johnson, the owner of Stroud based Kung Fu Accounting was next to be quizzed. Set up 5 years ago, employing 5 staff and BCorp like Business West spoke about his approach.
As a small service-based business, his focus was on what they buy…or rather, what they do not.
Their key focus is Accountancy, but they also encourage their clients to think about ethical banking, too.
Their environmental purchasing policy is clear: buy local, buy second hand, only buy if totally necessary. ‘Maybe it’s being an accountant, maybe it’s being really tight. We don’t need more consumption.’ Says Scott Johnson.
His advice to businesses it not to get bogged down by the complexity of making environmental change.
1. Work out where you’re spending out money.
2. Track it.
3. Change it.
4. Do one thing, get it embedded and then do another.
Scott believes that there is a better way to do business that is good for people, planet and business. Get in those rooms, have those conversations, there is another way. As an accountant, he is in a position to support and challenge his clients to look at the numbers and make decisions that are not only good for the bottom line but will reduce their emissions.
Keep Going and Encourage ideas
Ben Goodare, Head of Corporate Responsibility at Renishaw, one of the world's leading engineering and scientific technology companies was next on the panel.
When asked about their pathway to net zero? He explained: ‘It’s a journey. It is an urgent journey. Every step for good that anyone makes helps. Pick one thing and do it, then pick another thing and do it.’
Involving all staff members is important - they have an internal sustainability group, our staff know our equipment and processes and are best placed to come up with ideas. This forum allows voices to be heard, good ideas implemented and celebrated.
‘Climate change is seen to be an issue that business can fix. Without government supporting it, it won’t get to where we need to go. They need to stand up for something.
A view from Stroud Council
Also taking part was Rachel Brain, 2030 Strategy Manager at Stroud Council. Their climate change strategy considers 7 key areas: Energy, Built environment, Natural environment, Mobility, Economy, Waste and Community.
She explained that the council are encouraging low carbon business, local supply chain, circular economy and community energy. A major challenge is that there is not enough council funding to support every business in Stroud to make progress towards Net Zero.
We need to overhaul business rates as the system has a lot of flaws and could be used as an incentive for energy efficiency? Many businesses would prefer a relief on their business rates rather than a pot of money.
Overall Learnings
Summarising the key findings was Simon Pickering, Co-Chair GFirstLEP Energy Business Group and an Ecologist of over 30 years:
What businesses can do
• Measure and monitor – your impacts
• Avoid – don’t do environmentally damaging things
• Reduce those things we do need to do
• Substitute – choose a low carbon option as a first choice
• Commitment from the top is essential
How we’re going to deliver them
• Networking and peer to peer support – utilise the Trading to Net Zero hub and networks like BCorp and Business Declares. These networks will challenge and support businesses on their journey.
• Lobby - we need government and local authorities to help to move things forward, businesses need the right infrastructure around them if we are to meet Net Zero targets
• Be courageous to make change – move outside your comfort zone
• Have fun while doing it!
As Churchill says, ‘It is no use saying, 'We are doing our best.' You have got to succeed in doing what is necessary.’
Business West is a BCorp and has an ambition to be Net Zero by 2030. Already the first Chamber of Commerce to be Carbon Neutral, it is using ISO 14001 to accelerate progress. We will be sharing our progress and providing support, guidance and resources to our members and the wider business community through our Trading To Net Zero hub. We are actively working with stakeholders across the region to accelerate progress.
Watch the recording:
- Log in to post comments