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Local businesses with a shared ambition to take action to reduce their carbon footprint attended Stockport’s first Climate Action Now Business Forum and were taken beyond the initial stage of understanding climate change to hear from well-informed guest speakers as to why it is vital that action is taken now and how to move towards actively addressing and implementing change within their organisations.
GMCA and Stockport Carbon Action Now – CAN
Following the success of the launch of Stockport Climate Action Now, Stockport Council’s innovative, local response to mitigate the devastating impact of climate emergency, Stockport’s first of many ‘Climate Action Now’ Business Forums was chaired by Sam Vesey, Head of Sustainability at global-tech reseller musicMagpie.
Stockport Council has committed to achieving Net Zero by 2030 across its own operations, and is very much focussed on influencing the rest of the borough to achieve Net Zero by 2038 in line with Greater Manchester’s target.
Businesses across Stockport will play a pivotal role in achieving the local ambition by working collaboratively rather than independently. The Climate Action Business Forum provides the opportunity for businesses to learn, to share information, to work together and to understand:
- the magnitude of climate emergency and why action is needed
- how regulation will drive change
- the steps one of the world’s largest global organisations has taken to change behaviour, product, significantly reduce global emissions and prepare for a net zero future
- how an SME can prepare and create an Impact Assessment for meaningful impact
- the tools and support available
Nick Leslie, Head of Stockport CAN and former Head of Climate Change at the BBC, explained why action is needed now:
“Greater Manchester’s Environment Plan outlines GMCA’s ‘fair carbon budget’ for the coming decades. The critical focus, as well as decreasing emissions, is not exceeding our total ‘carbon emissions budget. Over the last decade, GM’s emissions have continually exceeded the rates of decline needed ?to stay in line with what is needed. We are currently nowhere near the rates we must decrease emissions to meet the 2038 target.
“We must start treating carbon emissions the same way we account for finance; by accounting for ‘carbon budgets’. Every year we miss these targets, we take away from future ‘carbon budgets’ and the trajectory of the decline in carbon emissions we must achieve steepens. The key point is that significant cuts must happen now if we stand a chance of achieving carbon neutrality in a ‘fair’ way by 2038.”
Carbon Action as a Large Business
Wayne Jones OBE (pictured), Head of Global Sales at Man Energy Solutions (part of the worldwide VW Group), demonstrated how being a large multi-national in 140 locations across the globe was no barrier to change, despite an eclectic mix of cultures and behaviour:
“MAN Energy Solutions, formerly MAN Diesel & Turbo, the oldest industrial company in Germany, supplies equipment to the marine, power and oil and gas industries around the world. MAN’s engines are used to power ships that move 90% of goods around the globe.
“To tackle the harmful emissions that diesel engines have on the environment, it was essential that our organisation became innovators and early adopters of cleaner energy solutions. We are now global leaders in the marine sector having powered the first carbon neutral container vessel and we have reduced our own CO2 footprint by more than thirty per cent across all 140 locations, worldwide.”
“Although we had to make highly significant and drastic changes throughout the entire organisation, for many businesses, taking small steps will contribute to big change. Simply by reviewing transport arrangements, changing lighting and energy systems or adopting an Environmental and Sustainability policy, everyone has the power to contribute to tackling the climate emergency.”
Taking steps to achieve Carbon Net Zero – Impact Assessment Report
Smith Goodfellow PR & Marketing’s Jen Heil explained the benefits for all businesses in tackling environmental issues and why SMEs should create an impact assessment report as a first step on their journey to sustainability. Vital steps include getting your people on board, establishing a team to drive the work, setting realistic and timely targets, and creating a single voice / platform to share and communicate progress. Take a look at Smith Goodfellow’s Impact Report here.
We’re here to help – you’re not alone
And the good news is that it’s not all down to you. There are many organisations and tools that can help you including the Business Growth Hub, Small99, SME Climate Hub, Planet Mark and the team at Stockport CAN.
Wanted! Inspiring pioneers in the low carbon sector
Stockport Business and Innovation Centre (SBIC) have launched their next Pioneer 10 competition and are searching for Stockport’s innovative and ambitious businesses who can be true pioneers in the low carbon sector. Focusing this year on reducing our carbon footprint, the team at SBIC is looking for applications from businesses or entrepreneurs that propose solutions, either for themselves, their business, or their customers.
Participants will receive free business advice and guidance delivered in group workshops; shortlisted finalists can expect one-to-one coaching with a focus on business plan development before pitching their ideas to the expert judging panel during a Dragon’s Den style event. The winning Low Carbon ‘Pioneer 10’ will receive an incredible package which includes – free desk/office space at Stockport Business and Innovation Centre for 12 months; an award of £5,000 to be used for prototype development in collaboration with the local University network; tickets to a business event of choice up to the value of £500, along with support from the Low Carbon Pioneer 10 experts at The Business Growth Hub; Gorvins Solicitors; Clarke Nicklin; Kast Energy; Appleyard Lees; Oxford Innovation and Stockport Council. Find out more at at the Pioneer 10 website.