Climate change and business

What local businesses can do

Do a climate health check to understand your current emissions. Measuring direct and indirect emissions such as utility usage and fleet mileage will show you where you are and how you can improve.

Thames Valley Chamber's Sustainability Working Group produce a Net Zero Checklist which is a good place to start.

There are also a range of tools to help you:

Financial support to make your business greener

Capital Claim Allowances

You can claim capital allowances on a range of green equipment. These could include electric cars, zero emissions vehicles, equipment for electric vehicle charging points and hydrogen refuelling.

Workplace Charging Scheme

Visit Workplace Charging Scheme on GOV.UK for more information.

Horizon Europe

Horizon Europe offer funding for organisations across Europe to respond to big challenges including climate change.

For smaller businesses, they offer coaching and mentoring to help develop a strategy for this.

Ofgem funding

Ofgem offer a range of funding for businesses, the public sector and non-profit organisations.

Education and training opportunities

The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment

The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment offers a range of sustainability management courses covering a range of topics.

The United Nations online learning

The United Nations Climate Change division offers a variety of online courses focused on climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Green business development

The Federation of Small Businesses Sustainability Hub

The Federation of Small Businesses have a Sustainability Hub that works to support small businesses with resources, events and general advice to help achieve net zero.

Climate Hub

The UK government has put together Climate Hub with a range of resources and tools to help businesses quickly reduce their emissions.

The Energy Saving Trust

The Energy Saving Trust provides guidance on how businesses can reduce their energy output.

The Carbon Trust

The Carbon Trust have established a Green Business Fund to support small to medium sized organisations across the UK. The fund provides opportunities to improve energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.

Everyday action

Adopt a climate conscious outlook in everyday life to make small changes with a big impact. Cut consumption and reduce waste by:

  • sign up to a recycling programme, such as Terracycle - you can recycle specific things like stationery or Pringles tubes
  • provide plastic and food recycling bins
  • make sure equipment is turned on only when needed
  • install green technology such as sensor lights
  • encourage greener travel by adopting a flexible working policy 

Pledges

Businesses of any size can pledge to achieve net zero. The Business Climate Hub offers lots of information on this.

For example you could make a plastic free pledge and commit to reducing single use plastic in your organisation.

As well as the above, think about joining a local business forum to learn more about sustainable business: