The ‘largest ever’ national net zero business census has been launched, taking a temperature check on the eco actions of UK businesses.
Businesses are being urged to participate in the census, which will track the private sector’s progress towards the UK’s 2050 net zero targets.
The moves follows prime minister Rishi Sunak watering-down a number of the UK’s net zero policies.
The annual survey will carry out a temperature check on UK businesses and their green ambitions amid net-zero targets.
It is being delivered by the government-backed UK Business Climate Hub in partnership with Planet Mark, the sustainability certification provider, as well as a coalition of leading business associations, media outlets and corporates.
Running from now until June 30, the census will establish the proportion of UK businesses with net zero targets, the number of businesses measuring their carbon footprint and what actions are taken by businesses to reduce this footprint.
It will also provide a regional, sector and business size breakdown of the data, providing insights to policy makers, investors and business leaders into the nation’s net zero journey.
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The coalition of partners also hope that the campaign and subsequent report will inspire business action on net zero.
Planet Mark’s director of policy and partnerships, Andrew Griffiths, said: “This is the most ambitious survey ever undertaken on the state of UK business’ progress to achieving net zero.
“Through working with so many like-minded partners, we will be able to reach thousands of businesses across the country to understand the commitments and actions they are taking to drive positive change for society, business and nature.
“We hope the results from the Census can inform the policy and investment decisions needed to secure business success as we transition to net zero by 2050.”
Edward Lockhart, convener of the Broadway Initiative, who manage UK Business Climate Hub, said: “The Net Zero Census will provide an annual benchmark for the business community on our journey to a low carbon economy.
“It will give government, business leaders and the financial community a richer dataset than we’ve ever had before to take stock of progress and what more needs to be done.
“It will give us the tools to understand the impact of the Business Climate Hub and how we should target resources to enable smaller businesses to decarbonise and provide the low carbon solutions of the future.”
A report earlier this year from NGO Planet Tracker slammed various advertising companies for their lack of ESG commitments.
