Less than a third of businesses plan on cutting their emissions over the next year

Less than a third of businesses plan on cutting their greenhouse gas emissions over the next year, despite the UK’s recent net zero efforts, according to the latest research.

What stands in the way of most firms, however, is the transition to producing fewer emissions being ‘costly’, the Office for National Statistics found.

While around 13 per cent of those not taking action said they were unsure of how to even begin measuring their emissions.

Nearly half of businesses that have already decided to tackle their emissions output, are more likely to take action in the coming year – suggesting the process is easier once firms are in the swing of it.

The UK has pledged to reach net zero emissions by 2050, meaning that the carbon fumes emitted through vehicles and supply chain processes is offset, or cancelled out by carbon absorbing techniques.

Or, the UK rallies enough efforts behind carbon-free or low-carbon alternatives, such as electric vehicles (EVs).

The government’s emissions pledge forms part of the 2015 Paris Agreement’s goal to limit global warming to well below 2C and as close to 1.5C as possible, to ensure the climate can remain functionable for civilisation as we know it.

However, the world is currently off course to reach this target.

New research from climate analysis coalition Carbon Action Tracker yesterday revealed that despite the recent pledges made at COP26 – global temperatures are expected to increase by 2.4C, far exceeding the Paris Agreement’s upper limit.

The data suggests that more needs to be done to curb carbon emissions, despite this year’s efforts.