Clear policy needed to progress net zero targets - Chamber
A new report published today is calling for government, local leaders and mayors to provide businesses with clear support and policy in order to progress net zero targets.
Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) has set out five key recommendations to help accelerate business progress to net zero.
These are published in a report coinciding with the UK100 Conference, being hosted by the West Midlands Combined Authority and UK100, a network of locally elected leaders that have pledged to play their part in tackling climate change.
The five recommendations include:
- Increase financial support for businesses (particularly SMEs) through increased value of grants, favourable finance and financial relief, to stimulate accelerated business decarbonisation and low-carbon technology uptake.
- Increase the provision and investment into supply side low-carbon infrastructure and encourage a modal shift in city transport.
- Increase devolution powers to invest in regional low-carbon technology.
- Provide clear and long-term policy certainty and planning to stimulate private investment.
- Invest in skills, training and careers for the regional and national net zero transition.
The document aims to influence policy in the run up to COP26 in November and calls on the government to strengthen their climate leadership through increased business support and strengthened policy on net zero.
It has been shared with key regional stakeholders, including the West Midlands Combined Authority.
In April the Government announced a legislated target of a 78 per cent reduction in CO2 eq. emissions by 2035 based on 1990 levels (a reduction of approximately 60 per cent from today 's levels), to accelerate progress to the 2050 net zero target.
Henrietta Brealey (pictured), chief executive of GBCC, said that by enhancing business support, firms will be better equipped to tackle pressing environmental issues.
She said: “Businesses are the backbone of the economy and are still recovering from the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. Yet we already seeing growing numbers of businesses tackling the climate crisis head on and experiencing the associated benefits
“Given the economic precariousness of the climate crisis, we are calling on the Government to give businesses the support and clear policy they need to progress to the national 2050 net zero target.
“Through enhancing business support and providing clear Government policy, the business community can tackle the most pressing environmental issues we have ever faced
“We will use our position to advocate on behalf of Greater Birmingham businesses with local, regional and national stakeholders ”
Click here to view the report.