Scottish businesses join forces to fight climate change

A new climate action group has been set up to help businesses and communities across Scotland tackle the environmental crisis and move towards a greener society.

Established by membership body Business in the Community (BiTC) Scotland, the group’s work will focus on identifying, trailing, and enabling measures that will help the country to speed up reductions in greenhouse gas emissions while protecting people and jobs for a sustainable future.

The group is made up of a diverse range of business and national stakeholders – from government agencies and energy providers to banks and scientists – with more expected to join up in coming months.

It has been formed in the wake of research carried out for BiTC, which showed reaching net-zero-carbon emissions 20 years ahead of the UK national goal – by 2030 instead of 2050 – could cut the cost to society by £1.1 trillion.

Business Stream chief executive Jo Dow will chair the new climate action group for Business in the Community Scotland

The work of the group will be especially important this year, as Scotland and the UK prepare to host the UN climate summit COP26 which is due to take place in Glasgow in November.

Its remit aligns with BiTC’s Challenge 2030 environmental campaign:, which calls on all businesses to act now to embed action within their core business strategy to build back responsibly and sustainably from the coronavirus pandemic.

Business Stream chief executive Jo Dow, who is chairing the new group, believes companies are vital to the battle against climate change.

The business community has an important role to play in unlocking the potential of green growth and accelerating the journey to net-zero,” she said.

“This isn’t an issue we can afford to simply pay lip service to, and the priority for this group will be to identify practical measures that will support businesses of all sizes to make a positive difference.

“I was delighted to be asked to chair this group and look forward to working with BiTC’s members and stakeholders to help deliver real change in this area.”

Gudrun Cartwright, climate action director for BiTC, has welcomed the new initiative.

“I am delighted that BiTC’s Scottish leadership board have set up this group to drive action to tackle the climate crisis, with Jo at the helm.

“With Cop26 taking place in Glasgow in November, there has never been a better opportunity to enable business action that accelerates a just transition to a resilient, net-zero-carbon world where people and nature thrive.

“I am excited about what we can achieve together.”

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