How will Climate Change Affect Your Business?

Climate change is a fact. It is happening now and it will have an impact on every business in every sector.  Reducing emissions makes good business sense, saving money and enhancing your company's reputation.

'It is not the strongest species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the ones who are most responsive to change'   -   Charles Darwin

Carbon emissions, a by-product of burning fossil fuels, are the prime cause of climate change. Around one half of the UK's carbon emissions come from the business sector. Every business has a part to play in combating climate change by reducing its carbon emissions.  Implementing no-cost and low-cost measures can result in a 20% reduction in energy use and can have the same effect on profitability as a 5% increase in sales.

20% reduction in energy use = 5% increase in sales.

The Carbon Trust helps business and the public sector cut carbon emissions through reduced energy use and supports the development of low carbon technologies.  View tips for instant savings.

The Government Climate Change Programme

'Climate change is probably the greatest threat to our way of life' David Miliband, Environment Secretary

The government has published its new Climate Change programme which aims to reduce the UK's emissions of greenhouse gases to 23-25 per cent below base year levels and reduce the UK's carbon dioxide emissions to 15-18 per cent below 1990 levels by 2010.

Measures include:

•an additional £5million to expand the Carbon Trust's scheme for small businesses

•£20million over the next two years to finance a major new initiative to strengthen consumer demand for energy efficiency, working closely with energy suppliers, local authorities and others to promote energy efficiency measures in households

•updated Building Regulations coming into force in April to raise the energy standards of new and refurbished buildings and help to improve compliance

•setting up a new revolving loan fund of £20m for the public sector, to invest in energy efficiency

•a new £4m local government best practice support programme, to be launched in 2006-7, which will aim to benchmark the performance of local authorities on climate change and sustainable energy and target those who need the most help to raise their performance.

•a support scheme for biomass heat in the industrial, commercial and community sectors. The scheme will be worth between £10-15m in England over the next two years.

New programme materials and the establishment of the £6M communicators fund aims to change people's attitudes and show that by working collectively we can make a difference in combating climate change and launch - in partnership with others - larger, national projects during years two and three of the initiative.

A climate change guide, designed to help local authorities, Non Government Organisations, the business community and successful communicators fund applicants explain climate change and communicate the main concepts.  A new website portal - will hold the guide, further information about understanding and communicating climate change, fund criteria, a timeline for applications and case studies.

Clear Skies

Clear Skies has now closed to new grant applications and has been superceded by the DTI's Low Carbon Buildings Programme (LCBP).

Low Carbon Buildings Programme

The DTI's Low carbon buildings programme will provide grants for microgeneration technologies for businesses, community organisations, schools, the public sector and householders. Microgeneration is the stand alone generation of low carbon heat and/or electricity which for example, could be through solar photovoltaics.