As of August 14th, 2023, British businesses can utilize a free carbon calculator – amongst a range of climate-related tools – from the newly launched UK Business Climate Hub. The free website, which is endorsed by the UK Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, is particularly aimed at the 5.5 million small and medium sized businesses (SMEs) in the UK. Alongside climate-related advice, organizations can access a suite of new tools to help measure, track and report on their emissions and save money by using less energy.
In 2020, the UK was estimated to already have over 400,000 jobs in low carbon businesses and their supply chains across the country, with turnover at £41.6 billion. Over 80,000 green jobs are currently being supported or are in the pipeline because of new government policies since 2020, with that expected to increase to as many as nearly half a million by 2030. Yet, many organizations still don’t feel able to make a positive impact. Research shows that 90% of SMEs are keen to tackle climate change but find it difficult to know how or where to start to find the right solutions to reduce their carbon footprint.
The new hub could also prove beneficial for larger organizations – and those outside the UK. In their efforts to manage Scope 3 emissions, firms with UK SMEs in their supply chains may consider encouraging them to use the hub’s free tools.
The UK Business Climate Hub is also backed by business leaders and ministers on the new Net Zero Council, a group which comprises CEOs from leading organizations including Co-op, HSBC, Siemens and Cemex. The council has developed a new business roadmap framework to help empower businesses to work with others in their sector to create tailored action plans to decarbonize their industry.
