The acceleration in addressing climate change has brought with it a dictionary of new terms. The British Chambers of Commerce partnered with O2 in a recent survey which found that one in five businesses (22%) admitted to not fully understanding what is meant by the term ‘net zero’.
We can help with that. So, what is net zero?
Unfortunately, there is no ‘one size fits all’ solution to climate change, but the phrase net zero embodies a number of solutions and changes that need to happen for us to put an end to global warming.
In 2019, as apart of an amendment to The Climate Change Act, the UK government made a commitment for the country to achieve net zero by 2050. Net zero means reducing your greenhouse gas emissions across business and individuals activities, with the goal of balancing the emissions produced and emissions removed from the earth’s atmosphere.
How do we reach net zero?
Whilst many businesses have joined the movement and are committed to becoming net zero by 2030 (before the governments national target), there is no direct way that outlines how to get to net zero. Reaching net zero looks different for everyone, as we all emit emissions differently: different supply chains, diets, shopping habits, travelling schedules etc.
To reach net zero, all emissions need to be cut significantly and as a society we need to undergo a sustainable transformation. Emissions from homes, transport, agriculture, industry, and everything else in between need to be reduced. Reducing emissions comes by changing our behaviour towards processes, adapting new technologies and always thinking about the environmental impact.
How to begin your net zero journey?
1) Set an ambition to reach net zero. As a business, you can sign up to the Race to Zero Campaign to show you are actively committed to reaching net zero.
2) Measure and track your businesses carbon footprint each year. Start with your most significant sources of carbon, be it energy, fuel, whatever it is. Over time you can also include emissions from your suppliers and customer activity. This will allow you to see which parts of your business emits the most carbon and where you can make the biggest reductions.
3) Set out a plan to reduce carbon emissions. Include your staff and supply chain where you can. Each business will take a different approach, you can begin by doing simple low-cost changes, the changes that will help you win more business, the changes that will have the biggest impact. It is important to take action and keep going.
4) Develop a net zero culture within your business. This is important for you staff, suppliers and customers to understand WHY your business is on the journey to net zero, and HOW they can help your business to make progress.
5) Keep learning. As more businesses make progress to net zero, more products, services and mechanisms will become available for businesses to decarbonise. Our Trading to Net Zero Hub has a list of resources and useful links for businesses to keep abreast of best practice and know what support is available them.
The impact of doing nothing:
So, you might have just read all of this and still be thinking, so what? Yes, the government has set a national target of when we must achieve net zero, but I don’t legally have to act on this… or do I?
Businesses will soon be compelled to take action to cut carbon emissions with legislation coming down the track, as the UK pushes to meet its net zero target by 2050.
- The Sixth Carbon budget
- Industrial decarbonisation strategy
- North Sea Transition Deal
- Energy white paper: Powering our net zero future
Just to name a few, but all the above are policies being introduced by the government to make sure that everyone begins to comply with sustainable ways of living and working.
Climate change isn’t going away. Acting now will not only future proof your business, but it will make the transition to a net zero economy and nation obtainable.
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