November 2021 is an important step in the quest to protect our environment.
The COP summit will bring parties together to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
The UK is committed to working with all countries and joining forces with people on the frontline of climate change to inspire action ahead of COP26.
Scientists predicted that change would occur and that change is now very obvious. Loss of sea ice, accelerated sea levels rising and more intense heat waves are becoming common place.
Scientists are predicting that global temperatures will continue to rise for decades to come, largely because of greenhouse gases produced by human activity. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a group of international scientists, forecasts a temperature rise of up to 10 degrees Fahrenheit over the next century.
COP26 (Conference of the Parties) will be attended by countries that signed the UNFCCC. The 2021 meeting will be the 26th meeting since its conception.
The last COP was held in Madrid where each nation agreed to devise a plan to cut their carbon emissions by the next conference, in Glasgow. Presidents and Prime Ministers from around the will be reporting back on progress.
The UK will set in law a new climate target, which aims to cut emissions by 78% by 2035, compared to 1990 levels. These ambitious targets will help drive the UK towards net zero by 2050.
This latest target from the UK shows the world that the UK is serious about protecting the planet. New technologies are being funded by the UK Government, which is detailed in their Green Industrial Revolution plan.
Businesses should have a strategy
Companies large and small can get involved in the Green Revolution. Developing a Green Strategy can help businesses reduce costs and at the same time reduce emissions. Here are five strategic things businesses can do.
1. Develop a Climate Change Policy and Green Strategy, which includes measuring and analysing emissions and reducing energy consumption.
2. Reducing waste, whether it is the industrial waste of a large company or the paper waste of a small business.
3. Consider transportation costs and impacts, which can include employees getting to work, business travel and transportation costs of moving goods around.
4. Each company has a responsibility regarding its supply chain, choosing suppliers and contractors that have environmentally-friendly processes in place.
5. Educate employees to ensure they know the importance of green initiatives.
We can all play our part
We can all play our part in the Green Revolution. A business moving into a greener phase does not need to cost a lot. In fact, we have found that businesses who have embraced the five points above actually save money, through reduced operating costs.
If you would like more information about how your company can develop a green approach to business, please get in contact.
COP26 will be held in Scotland in 2021. Here is a beautiful video, featuring the wonderful natural environment of Scotland, set to a poignant sound track.
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