Net Zero this, Climate Change that, Sustainability the other ...
There’s no denying it, these are buzzwords that are making us sit up and listen. Climate change is headline news again fuelled by forest fires in Turkey, Greece, and America. Greta Thunberg is a teenage activist challenging world leaders to take immediate action. David Attenborough has made the world rethink about single use plastics.
Achieving Net Zero by 2050, in line with the Paris Agreement, is the UK’s legal target. The public sector is on board. 76% of District, County, Unitary & Metropolitan Councils have declared a Climate Emergency. The NHS has declared a net zero target of 2040. Universities have been told to deploy their full armoury to target net zero carbon emissions by 2030.
However, mitigating climate change is everyone’s responsibility and although some of the private sectors are on board, the rest need to follow. Over the next 10 or 20 years, what we do to get to net zero will have a major impact on the world we live in. This will reach every corner of the economy, so the sooner businesses get on board, the better.
The Five Point Plan To Reach Net Zero
- Measure
- Get Your Boss On Board
- Make A Commitment
- Pick Low Hanging Fruit
- Implement a Plan
1: Measure, measure and measure again
Calculate your carbon footprint. This is not just your electricity and gas that you use and the vehicle fleet that you run. Scope 1 and 2 emissions but the fuel you use to attend that business meeting, the waste you throw away, the supply chain that you use. Scope 3 emissions are likely to be 70-80% of your total carbon footprint. It’s not just about the energy, its more about sustainability. If you don’t measure it, you can’t manage it.
2: Get Your Boss on Board
Achieving net zero should be on everyone’s agenda in your company but especially in the boardroom. Set the tone from the top and embed climate change in your business model.
3: Make A Commitment
Be bold and ambitious and agree a challenging but realistic and achievable date to reach net zero. Doing so demonstrates a clear commitment to the sustainability of your business, your industry, and your country. Make it ahead of your competitors and gain a commercial advantage.
4: Pick The Low Hanging Fruit
Start with easy wins like changing the lighting to smart or LED or improving your insulation or buying your sandwiches from a local supplier. There will be cost savings associated with lower emissions. You might have to invest to save but in the long run you will be improving the bottom line and increasing your profit.
5: Implement a Green Plan and Net Zero Carbon Programme
Now that you have decided where and when you want to be, you need to decide how are you getting there. This may be energy saving projects, revising your procurement strategy, and working together with other companies who adopt the same aspiration. Other companies Scope 1 and 2s are your Scope 3. Companies joining on this green bandwagon in an effort to gain more customers. Amazon is pioneering “Climate Pledge”, Telsa is fast becoming a major automotive force and Aldi have adopted a turtle to advertise their green credentials.
Need LCMB's Expert help achieving the above?
LCMB are well placed to help you make that journey as effortlessly as possibly, having advised many private and public sector clients on their route to net zero. Get in touch with our Net Zero Expert, Mike Kenny who can help you on your road to Carbon Neutrality. Call 01295 722823 or email [email protected]
Join our webinar on 16/09/21 on "How Net Zero Is Changing The Way We Do Business and How It Can Be Used To Attract and Retain Customers"
For all the details and to register free for the webinar click here
