The Climate Change Committee (CCC) has set out a list of five proposals to help improve businesses taking action on climate change in accelerating their progress towards net zero.
The proposals are part of a wider ‘Power of Partnership’ report from the group – which advises the government on emissions targets and reducing greenhouse gas emissions –and comes ahead of a more extensive document due to be published later this year.
The five point plan outlined the following proposals to strengthen business action on achieving net zero:
- Integrity and transparency of impact and actions
- Investment into low carbon solutions
- Implementing net zero through supply chains, procurement and infrastructure
- Innovative industries, technology and workers
- Influence on business and society
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It follows an expert advisory group, which discussed different ways for UK businesses to achieve net zero, chaired by Shevaun Haviland from the British Chambers of Commerce.
The twelve experts on the climate panel included Futerra’s Solitaire Townsend, John Lewis Partnership’s Alex Sutton and Lloyds Banks’ Paul Gordan.
The report emphasised that net zero presents commercial and economic opportunity for the UK and that while the private sector has a role, government involvement is needed to address infrastructure and regulation issues.
Some of the key barriers mentioned by the panel were: limited capacity and resource for SMEs to understand and respond to net zero, delays in key climate infrastructure like grid infrastructure and the lack of tools and practical standards to provide consistent for companies to make purchasing and procurement decisions.
Last month, the CCC also released a report into the need for the UK government to get behind green jobs if the country is to achieve net zero, calling for stronger policy on this issue.
In a recent EY survey, global experts highlighted a skills gap in the area of ESG, with 35% saying they have difficulty hiring talent with sustainability skills.