Climate change is at the top of the world agenda, and Net Zero is the new target. Do you know what this means for your SME business?
Surveys show that climate and environmental concerns are held by the majority of the population. Governments are reacting and global pledges to make improvements and counter climate change are being made. Direct action is taking place on the streets, and an environmental conscience is informing public, government, and corporate decision making and purchasing.
Limiting global warming to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels has been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) as the as the worldwide objective to halt the progress of climate change before the consequences become too severe.
Net Zero is the action required to keep to this objective. It means limiting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases to the capacity of the environment to absorb it. It’s not about cutting all emissions, but about balancing the books to stabilise the amount of these gases in the atmosphere and stop levels rising further.
What does this mean for SMEs? It starts with measuring the emissions your business is making. There are a number of tools that can help with this. Once you know your starting point you can set yourself targets and take actions to achieve them. This is your Net Zero Plan.
The consequences of not limiting the impact of global warming are a less certain world for all. Extreme weather events become more frequent, and this will have direct and indirect adverse impacts on all our lives.
SMEs that do not voluntary engage with Net Zero early risk falling out of step with public opinion, and encourage direct action by government to mandate actions through legislation and regulation.
If you’re ready to discuss Net Zero and what it means for your business, get in touch today for a no obligation conversation.