Why businesses must take action in climate change

What comes first: motivation or action?

I was asked this question as part of a training programme exploring the psychology of goal achievement, writes Henrietta Brealey.

Do you take up jogging because you suddenly feel motivated and inspired to take up jogging?

Or do you force yourself to get up and get out because you know it 'll be good for you - and then feel motivated as a result of having started to achieve what you set out to?

The answer is - either. Either one can follow the other depending on the context; the critical thing is taking the action.

While this was part of a programme delivered by Curium Solutions (a GBCC Patron and all-round good eggs) I 've been reflecting on this advice in a very different context: climate change.

Between September 30 and November 3, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce teamed up with our neighbours up the road in Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber to deliver the Sustainable Business Series.

Together we delivered five webinars, numerous blogs, videos and podcasts and one half day summit all exploring businesses ' role in the transition to Net Zero. Our way of bringing a flavour of COP26 to the West Midlands.

Net Zero, of course, refers to the aim of getting the balance between greenhouse gasses emitted into the atmosphere and those taken from the atmosphere to zero (i.e. no more emitted than extracted).

It can be calculated on a global, national, business or even individual citizen level.

Greenhouse gas emissions from human activity are a leading cause of climate change. Right now, the overwhelming majority of businesses, nations and other stakeholders are responsible for emitting far, far more than we capture back again.

As Chambers of Commerce, we believe that we have a key role to play in making this agenda real and accessible for local businesses, creating opportunities for peer learning and expert advice to support them on their journeys.

I had the privilege of chairing the summit last week where we brought 100 delegates together with 10 experts and case studies for a morning of debate and discussion at Conference Aston. To say it gave a lot of food for thought would be an understatement, but some key messages really stood out to me:

Everyone is at a different stage of their journey on this - and understandably so given how much immediate-term challenges such as Covid-19 and Brexit have dominated (and for some, continue to dominate) businesses ' time over the past two years.

A poll of our audience showed a quarter of attendees ' organisations had not taken any steps to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions while over a third had been taking action for three years or more. Over half did have plans to achieve net zero while 30 per cent did not.

It is completely OK to admit novice status (I include myself in this camp). But there is growing recognition that this is not a “good to do ” it 's both a “must ” given the very real threats and “good business sense ” to do. Afterall, as others move forward around us suddenly standing still starts feeling an awful lot like going backwards.

The language we use matters. From quick “show of hands ” and discussions with the audience a lot of phrases that get banded around a lot in debates on this subject: “net zero ” itself, “ESG ”, “scope 1, 2, 3 emissions ” and others are not universally (and in some cases, even widely) understood. Keeping it accessible is important.

For all the challenges this agenda brings - it also presents opportunities. Demonstrating serious action on this agenda can give businesses the edge with customers and, increasingly, on accessing finance (as Laura Suffolk, regional director for NatWest highlighted - they are working to halve the bank 's financed emissions by 2030 with much of the sector working to similar objectives).

What 's more, whole new industries are emerging and strengthening and early adopters will be ideally placed to claim market share. There are still plenty of gaps in products and services locally that a canny entrepreneur with the right backing could find growing opportunities in.

There was also recognition that more is needed from the Government to help create the environment for businesses to invest and for those innovating in this space to get the long-term investment they need to scale up and achieve their potential.

Tackling climate change requires us (individuals, businesses, governments) to change and change requires action - from all of us. Unfortunately, this cannot wait for the space to feel motivated. Climate change is at “code red ”, “one minute to midnight ” - the visible effects of rising sea levels and increasing extreme weather events are all around us already.

If we wait for the motivation to act, despite all good intentions it may never make it to the top of the short-term priorities list. The much sought after but often elusive time “when things quieten down a bit ” might never appear.

So if this has been niggling at the back of your mind - take that first action. Make that commitment to your board or senior team, look into what your emissions are currently and quick wins for reducing them, or if you 're a way on your journey already, push forward with that next step.

For inspiration on what this could look like, you can find recordings of the Sustainable Business Series webinars on the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce website. Thanks to our sponsors Arup, Morgan Sindall Construction and Infrastructure, Aston University and University of Birmingham we 've been able to offer all of the content and events during the campaign for free for all businesses.

While COP26 will come and go this agenda is only going to grow in importance - watch this space, there will be more from the Chamber and other key players locally and nationally on supporting the country on its way to net zero.

Henrietta Brearley is chief executive of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce

This column first appeared in this week 's Birmingham Post