We all have our part to play to create a more sustainable planet

Whilst the last 12 months have been hugely challenging for people and independent businesses, locally, nationally and internationally, there have been a number of silver linings to lessen the clouds of coronavirus. Perhaps one of the most prominent and important things to benefit is the environment. Air pollution has reduced significantly and, perhaps unsurprisingly, CO2 emissions have shrunk. Pretty significantly.

Put simply, the ongoing COVID-19 lockdown across the world has unequivocally proved a direct relation between pollution levels and economic activities, such as industrial activities, transportation and energy production.

But, of course, what happens when we get back to normality; these positive steps may soon be eliminated. Indeed, the International Energy Agency (IEA) has predicted a major surge in CO2 emissions from energy this year, as we rebound from the pandemic. It’s a statement of the obvious, but this isn’t good news. A cleaner, greener infrastructure has to be adopted as the pandemic subsides.

Just last month, as the world came together to support World Earth Day, the UK government proposed radical new climate change commitments to cut our carbon emissions by 78% by 2035. This brings forward the previous commitment by 15 years and would see the UK leading the world in the pace of change. 

The new commitment was brought about by the UK government accepting the advice of its Independent Climate Change Committee (CCC) to adopt the emissions cuts. Its chairman, Lord Dibben, is quite clear that now is the time for action: “If policy is not scaled up across every sector, if business is not encouraged to invest, if the people of the UK are not engaged in this challenge - the UK will not deliver net zero by 2050. The 2020s must be the decisive decade of progress and action.”

Hitting the targets will require more electric cars, low-carbon heating, renewable electricity and a range of other green measures. Homes and businesses will need to be better insulated and people will need to drive less and walk and cycle more.

And for businesses, there is the added factor of the rise of Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations in how they run their operations. ESG is swiftly becoming a tool on which businesses are judged by their people, their clients, and their shareholders. At its heart, it’s about creating true sustainability.

At Birmingham Bank, we take enormous pleasure from lending to our customers to purchase greener products and services. If you’d like to do your bit, we’d love to help with the finance.

From electric vehicles or bikes, charging points, cardboard waste balers, to biomass boilers; and from energy efficient lighting to solar panels, we can help businesses create a more sustainable future.

Alongside all this, is the upcoming introduction of Clean Air Zones which will see vehicles that exceed emissions standards paying a charge to drive in designated zone. Close to home, we are proud of our roots, as Birmingham will be joining other cities in June to adopt a Clean Air Zone.

Our preferred financial partner Birmingham Bank can help independent businesses like you finance moves to a greener approach, to find out more get in touch on 03330 048 048.