© 2021 Ernst & Young LLP. All rights reserved. ED None.EYUK- 00141551.indd (UK) 10/21. Creative London.By AlisonKay,EYUK&IManagingPartnerforClientService
EvenbeforeCOP26begins, 2021 hasalreadybeena
definingyearin thefightagainstclimatechange.
NewcommitmentsfromBorisJohnsonwillsettheUK
on courseto cutcarbonemissionsby 78%by 2035,
whiletheGovernment’sTenPointPlanfora green
industrialrevolutionpromisesinvestmentof £12billion,
to maketheUKa globalleaderin greentechnologies.
Formany,thiswasalsotheyearwhenclimatechange
wentfrombeinga futureproblemto a currentconcern
as extremeweathereventsacrosstheworldgrabbed
ourattention.
Timeforaction
Thefinancialresources,innovativeandentrepreneurial
spiritof UKbusinesswillhavea crucialroleto playin
slowingclimatechangeandturningtheGovernment’s
greenambitionsintoaction.
ThiswasthestartingpointfortheClimateBusiness
Forum,designedandhostedby EY.It brought
togethernotjustestablishedbusinessleaders
(betweenthemresponsibleforcompaniesgenerating
almost£100billionin revenue),butalsotheyoung
professionals,entrepreneursandstudentsdestinedto
leadthenextgeneration.
These commitments are available in full at
ey.com/uk/cbf, and we hope that they can inspire
UKbusinesses to have a debate about their
contribution to a green future.Whycollaborationis keytotacklingclimatechange
Thatcollaboration, supported by our experience of
advising companies on sustainability, has now delivered
a blueprint for a green future in the shape of 11 clearly
articulated actions that every UK business can use.Unlocking opportunities
Whilethe challenge for UK business remains huge —
fromthe shift to clean energy to greening supply chains
andreskilling workforces — so are the opportunities.Falling costs for clean energy and rapid advances in low-
carbon technology mean that we are fast approaching
thepoint when making a ‘green choice’ is becoming
a benefi t rather than simply a cost. Instead of being
perceived as a price worth paying, sustainability is
becoming value-additive and is being recognised as key
to driving long-term growth.Working together
Seizing those opportunities will require greater
collaboration between government, which can set a
framework for investment, and business, which can
turnambitions into action. By working closely together,
supported by convenors like EY, we can magnify our
efforts to address climate change.ADVERTISEMENT
How do we move
from climate
ambition to action?