SEMLEP
Businesses can commit to a better tomorrow, today
What can local businesses do to help fi ght climate change, and how can they benefit as a result? SEMLEP’s Growth Hub Manager, Vicky Hlomuka takes a look.
The effects of climate change are becoming clearer and clearer and are currently only set to get worse. T e science is clear; we need to halve greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050 or risk facing serious consequences. Individuals, organisations and governments are becoming increasingly aware of how important it is to do their part to help reduce carbon emissions and make the planet a cleaner, safer and more pleasant place to live. But can any one individual, or even one
business actually make that much difference? You’re probably thinking that big multinational corporations could possibly do something, but what can an SME realistically do to help? An awful lot, as it turns out. With COP26, a major international conference on how to tackle climate
change, being held in Glasgow this November, businesses of all sizes, from huge multinationals down to sole traders, are committing to do their bit to help cut carbon emissions and protect the planet. T e Government wants to make it as easy as possible for businesses to play their part and has partnered with business owners and respected climate groups to help SMEs join them. SMEs signifi cantly outnumber large corporations, so the eff ect they
can have by working together shouldn’t be underestimated. No matter how big or small your business is, or which industry you’re in, your commitment can make a genuine diff erence. Not only to the planet, but to your customers, and to your operating costs! Even the smallest businesses produce carbon, either through their building, their vehicles, or simply through their supply chain. By cutting your emissions and providing innovative climate solutions, you will meet the expectations of customers, retain market access, cut operating costs and win new business. T e government is asking businesses to make a commitment, and
pledge to half their carbon emissions by 2030, and to reach net zero by 2050. T at is, reach the point where you and your supply chain are putting no more carbon into the atmosphere than you are removing from it. Participating businesses will then be asked to disclose their progress towards these goals each year, to allow the government to track how well the UK is doing. T ere are plenty of tools and support to help you achieve this and
measure your success, both from the government, and from SEMLEP’s Growth Hub and its partners. For example, the Low Carbon Workspaces scheme provides match-funded grants of up to £5,000 to businesses to help pay for projects that will cut their carbon emissions and minimise waste. T is will allow businesses to recover up to a third of the costs of
52
ALL THINGS BUSINESS
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58
