A major nationwide assessment has been launched to uncover the UK private sector’s readiness for a net zero future.
Known as the UK Net Zero Business Census, the initiative is being led by the UK Business Climate Hub (UKBCH) in partnership with sustainability certification firm, Planet Mark, alongside various businesses and media organisations. The research aims to understand how businesses in the UK are approaching net zero to better support policymakers, investors and business leaders.
This includes whether they have set specific targets, how they are measuring their carbon footprint, and what actions they are taking to reduce emissions. The data will then be categorised by industry and business size to provide an overall picture.
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“The Net Zero Census will provide an annual benchmark for the business community on our journey to a low carbon economy,” commented Edward Lockhart, from the Broadway Initiative, which manages the UK Business Climate Hub.
“It will give government, business leaders and the financial community a richer dataset than we’ve ever had before to take stock of progress and what more needs to be done.
“It will give us the tools to understand the impact of the Business Climate Hub and how we should target resources to enable smaller businesses to decarbonise and provide the low carbon solutions of the future.”
The survey opened on 1 May and will conclude at the end of June, coinciding with the close of London Climate Action Week, and businesses of all sizes and industries are being encouraged to take part.
Described as the “largest national research initiative of its kind” by the Business Climate Hub, the survey comprises 10 multiple choice questions (approximately 7 minutes of time) about an organisation’s awareness and preparedness for the net zero transition.
Access to the survey can be found here.
Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a prize draw offering incentives such as free consultations with sustainability experts and subscriptions to relevant publications.
This initiative comes in light of recent studies indicating a lack of support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in implementing net zero changes. Research by Simply Asset Finance in late 2023 found that over half (58%) of surveyed SMEs felt unsupported.
Similar results were reported by the British Business Bank, estimating that over three quarters (76%) of businesses are yet to implement comprehensive decarbonisation plans.
The news follows the recent government-backed Innovation Zero event, where Energy Security Secretary Claire Coutinho expressed optimism about Britain’s potential in achieving net zero emissions and navigating the energy transition.
In her speech, Coutinho highlighted the UK’s progress, noting it’s among the top 20 emitting nations to have halved emissions since 1990 while achieving significant economic growth. She also commended the UK’s innovative spirit, ranking it alongside major economies like the US, China, and India.
However, Coutinho emphasised the importance of striking a balance between government involvement and market forces. She expressed concern that overly prescriptive regulations and micromanagement, which she referred to as ‘Net Zero Leviathan of central planning,’ could stifle the UK’s thriving entrepreneurial economy.
