The UK government has launched a climate-friendly scheme for SMEs to reduce emissions and energy costs as it continues to face criticism for its recent endorsement of the oil and gas industries.
The UK Business Climate Hub, launched today, provides UK businesses with a suite of tools to measure, track and report on emissions. The hub includes advice on sourcing sustainable materials, reducing emissions from business activity and installing sustainable energy features such as solar panels and EV charging points.
The Business Climate Hub is run by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, which has identified business and industry as accounting for 25% of emissions.
The department is targeting small businesses, having found through research that 90% of SMEs are interested in tackling climate change but struggle to identify effective solutions to reduce carbon footprints.
“More and more businesses are recognising the business benefits of reaching net zero and we’re determined to empower them to do so,” said Minister of State for Energy Security and Net Zero Graham Stuart.
“Whether it’s fitting a low-carbon heat pump, generating energy with solar panels, or reducing the emissions from shipping goods, the new support will ensure businesses can drive towards net zero.”
Steven Mooney, CEO of FundMyPitch, said that cost was one of the biggest barriers for SMEs to cut emissions.
“At a time when interest rates are surging and inflation remains stubbornly high, this new hub offers invaluable guidance to empower entrepreneurs to build a truly effective green strategy,” Mooney said.
The new measures follow a controversial move from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to grant hundreds of new North Sea oil and gas licences.
Analysis from Greenpeace has found that new oil and gas licences approved by the government over the past two years will produce as much carbon dioxide as the annual emissions of nearly 14m cars.