This is how we build a zero emissions economy
GatesNotes
OCTOBER 29, 2021
I recently wrote a white paper about the investments and policies we need to get to net-zero as quickly as possible.
October, 2021
This-is-how-we-build-a-zero-emissions-economy 
Small businesses contribute a third of UK emissions, but are laggards in the net zero race
Envirotec Magazine
OCTOBER 20, 2021
The research report, “ Smaller businesses and the transition to net zero “, highlights the potential collective influence of UK smaller businesses and the considerable contribution they could make to wider net zero objectives if they all made changes to reduce their carbon footprint. Image credit: Nenad Stojkovic , CC BY 2.0
Join 14,000+
Insiders
Sign Up for our Newsletter
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Webinars
Manufacturing Sustainability Surge: Your Guide to Data-Driven Energy Optimization & Decarbonization
Trending Sources
B.C.’s climate roadmap sets the right course, but the clock is ticking
Clean Energy Canada
OCTOBER 25, 2021
s emissions gap and hit our climate target—but only if implemented in a timely fashion. . “In In particular, the new commitment to increase light-duty zero-emission vehicle sales to 26% by 2026, 90% by 2030 and 100% by 2035 positions B.C. Encouragingly, these updated vehicle targets reflect and build on B.C.’s
Top banks back new net zero guide for financial institutions
Business Green
OCTOBER 20, 2021
New guide backed by the Prince of Wales aims to help banks support clients and customers as they work to curb their emissions. The Prince of Wales' Financial Services Task Force (FSTF) has this week launched a new Net Zero Practitioner's Guide to help banks better support their clients' transition to net zero.
How Digital Transformation will Bend the Curve of the Linear Economy Toward the Circular
Speaker: Bruce Armstrong Taylor, Co-Founder & Managing Director of SmartNations Foundation, Jimmy Jia, Venture Partner at Pi Labs, Fabienne Durand, Senior Advisor to the SmartNations Foundation, & Roger Strukhoff, Executive Director of the Tau Institute
We see it in many ways already. What can we do in our corporate organizations, in our homes and communities, to change the current course? The Carbon Zero, Circular and Regenerative Economy, is easily the most profoundly important possibility resulting from Digital Transformation. The Climate 4.0 Climate change is here.
The problem with COP26
Low Impact
OCTOBER 31, 2021
Tucked away in the report is this: “The available NDCs of all 191 Parties taken together imply a sizable increase in global GHG emissions in 2030 compared to 2010, of about 16%”. Has there been any progress in reducing global carbon emissions since Paris in 2015? We can’t solve a problem within the system that caused it.
COP 
113
113 
Net Zero Strategy: We have a plan
Business Green
OCTOBER 20, 2021
The government's new strategy is high risk and financially underpowered, but it still represents a massive boost for the green economy and may yet deliver on its enormous promise. How's the glass looking? It is possible to eviscerate the new Net Zero Strategy, and some will seize upon that opportunity. Half empty?
Aviation 77
77 
'Thundering wake up call': UN slams political leaders for vast 'emissions gap' ahead of COP26
Business Green
OCTOBER 26, 2021
warming pathway, and to turn 'vague' net zero pledges into action, UN warns. The latest edition of the UN's Emissions Gap report, published this afternoon, warns that the latest batch of national plans would only see an additional 7.5 The emissions gap is the result of a leadership gap," he said. by 2030," he said. "We
Politics 69
69 
Net Zero Festival: Google sets out on 'third decade of sustainable action'
Business Green
OCTOBER 1, 2021
Speaking during BusinessGreen's Net Zero Festival today, Brandt said the firm was "doubling down" in the decisive decade for climate action. In 2012, we then committed to use 100 per cent renewable energy and achieved that in 2017, and every year since.". In 2007, Google was first major company to commit to carbon neutrality.
Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021: The green economy reacts
Business Green
OCTOBER 27, 2021
Just a week after the government finally unleashed its Net Zero Strategy , Heat and Buildings Strategy and the Treasury's Net Zero Review, replete with a flurry of fresh policy and investment, it was now the turn of the Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, to set out the government's spending plans for the next year and beyond.
Government 66
66 
Government teams up with Bill Gates and top corporates to catalyse wave of green tech investment
Business Green
OCTOBER 19, 2021
Prime Minister Boris Johnson this morning used the Global Investment Summit as a curtain-raiser for the government's much-anticipated Net Zero Strategy, announcing almost £10bn of new foreign investment in a wave of primarily low carbon infrastructure projects. This is just the start.
Government 71
71 
'Greta was right': Trio of reports warns world at risk of squandering green recovery opportunity
Business Green
OCTOBER 6, 2021
The first analysis from the Green Economy Coalition, which was launched today , studied 32 countries and found that two-thirds have no or minimal green recovery policies in place. The global green recovery is failing to respond to the code red that people and nature are facing," said Oliver Greenfield, Convenor of the Green Economy Coalition.
Fossil fuels 101
101 
The Net Zero Strategy: The Reaction
Business Green
OCTOBER 19, 2021
BusinessGreen rounds up the best of the reaction from the low carbon economy to the government's flagship roadmap for achieving net zero emissions by 2050. The Net Zero Strategy has been published, and the response is decidedly mixed.
Government 41
41 
Budget: Treasury eyes £800m EV investment fund and green shipping tax breaks
Business Green
OCTOBER 25, 2021
Government to launch £1.4bn fund to attract more overseas investment in UK economy, with particular focus on electric cars and life sciences. Now we have left the EU, it's time for us to do even more to help the UK shipping industry to grow and compete in the global market.".
Investment 73
73 
'The system is interconnected': How halving UK energy demand could slash the costs of net zero
Business Green
OCTOBER 8, 2021
As the gas price crisis escalates, a comprehensive new study underscores need for 'changes in the way we live, move, and consume' to cut energy demand in pursuit of net zero.
NatWest promises new green loans for small businesses as part of £100bn climate finance push
Business Green
OCTOBER 13, 2021
New report highlights how climate action offers small and medium-sized enterprises huge potential for revenue growth. We are with them on every step of the journey that takes them from awareness and understanding, to ability to act, and finally to achieving positive climate and financial impact.
'Affordable choice': Government fires up plan to drive down cost of clean heat
Business Green
OCTOBER 18, 2021
Heat and Buildings Strategy promises to phase out traditional gas boilers, but critics argue plans remain badly under-funded. The Heat and Buildings Strategy had been subject to significant battles within government, with the Treasury voicing fears about the cost of phasing out gas boilers and upgrading homes across the country.
Government 73
73 
Net zero social housing could spur the wider market towards green homes
Business Green
OCTOBER 25, 2021
The UK faces an acute social housing crisis as well as a major challenge to decarbonise homes, but a net zero social homes programme could offer a solution, argues Shelter's Alastair Harper. But still we waited. At least now we are planning to take some action. Meanwhile, we know we need to retrofit our existing stock.
'Genuine step forward': CCC welcomes UK Net Zero Strategy, but warns crucial gaps remain
Business Green
OCTOBER 26, 2021
The UK's climate advisors have today hailed the government's new Net Zero Strategy as a "genuine step forward", but warned that many remaining policy gaps for tackling challenging issues as agriculture, buildings, taxation and consumer behaviour change will soon need to be filled. pic.twitter.com/9mU7MxD0ps.
Fossil fuels 41
41 
'I have a balance of concern and optimism': A COP26 temperature-check with Christiana Figueres
Business Green
OCTOBER 29, 2021
More than 70 per cent of the world's economy is now covered by net zero targets. In addition, a pandemic has shaken the world, taking millions of lives, wreaking havoc across the economy, and putting further crucial global climate talks on hold. A lot has changed since that crucial summit in 2015. It really is a balance.
Net Zero Strategy: Government unveils historic plan to make UK 'fighting fit' for the global green industrial revolution
Business Green
OCTOBER 19, 2021
Boris Johnson declares 'our strategy sets the example for other countries to build back greener too as we lead the charge towards global net zero'. The government stressed the new strategy would unlock multiple economic and environmental benefits, while having a negligible cost impact on consumers and businesses. "The
Government 47
47 
Sustainability Disclosure Requirements: Treasury sets out new environmental reporting rules for businesses
Business Green
OCTOBER 18, 2021
Government confirms plan to require certain companies to produce net zero transition plans, as part of raft of new rules designed to crack down on 'greenwash' and make it easier for consumers and investors to support the green industrial revolution.
Government aims to 'double-down' on clean power and CCS to achieve net zero grid
Business Green
OCTOBER 7, 2021
The announcement follows widely-briefed reports earlier this week had indicated the government was set to pull forward its zero carbon grid goal from by a further 15 years from its previous 2050 marker. Our plan to move to clean energy and a carbon-neutral economy means new kinds of jobs in new kinds of industries," he added.
Government 53
53 
COP26: Business leaders, investors, and royalty make final plea to world leaders
Business Green
OCTOBER 29, 2021
The group also called on major emitters to increase their emission reduction pledges - known as nationally determined contributions or NDCs in the UN jargon - to bring them into line with a 1.5C The stakes couldn't be higher, with the IPCC leaving us in no doubt that we have reached a code red for humanity.
Fossil fuels 43
43 
Voluntary Carbon Markets Integrity Initiative warns offsetting must be 'truly additional to real action'
Business Green
OCTOBER 28, 2021
UK-backed group lays out roadmap for how voluntary carbon markets can drive progress towards global climate goals. It comes amid growing fears that growing corporate and government appetite for carbon offsets that nominally enable them to meet ambitious net zero emissions goals could actually undermine global climate goals.
Carbon 41
41 
Introducing our new investor insights platform, and inaugural research on how to fix flaring
EDF + Business
OCTOBER 20, 2021
Building a thriving net zero future for people and the planet is the defining challenge of our time. Solving the climate crisis requires immediate action from all corners of the global economy, but carbon-intensive sectors play a particularly important role in the transition to a net zero carbon future.
No longer hard-to-abate? Why experts are saying steel sector decarbonisation could be easier than expected
Business Green
OCTOBER 13, 2021
Exclusive: First-of-its-kind report into steel and iron sector decarbonisation concludes net zero by 2050 is entirely possible for the industry. The sector, which relies on hugely energy-intensive production processes, is responsible for more than 10 per cent of global emissions, after all.
Hydrogen 56
56 
Net Zero Strategy: Ten things we learned
Business Green
OCTOBER 21, 2021
From nuclear and innovation funding to the continuing reluctance to engage with behaviour change, the Net Zero Strategy provided businesses and investors with the clearest insight yet on the government's thinking around how to accelerate the net zero transition. Could the Treasury be 'starting to get it'?
'The cusp of a new era': Five things we learnt from the 2021 World Energy Outlook
Business Green
OCTOBER 13, 2021
While the 386-page report is pointedly geared at the heads of government and policymakers attending next month's pivotal climate talks, there are also a number of interesting takeaways for financiers and business leaders looking to accelerate the transition towards a sustainable economy. limit that was agreed six years ago.
Fossil fuels 36
36 
Heat and Buildings Strategy: The Reaction
Business Green
OCTOBER 19, 2021
The government last night announced its long-awaited Heat and Buildings Strategy, promising to spark a revolution in how the UK's homes and offices are heated and take a sizeable chunk out of the country's carbon footprint. BusinessGreen rounds up some of the responses to a key plank of the UK's net zero agenda.
Fossil fuels 38
38 
Decade of delivery: How can businesses help keep 1.5C alive at COP26?
Business Green
OCTOBER 6, 2021
The latest report from the Energy Transitions Commission has set out a roadmap for how the world can move on to a 1.5C Meanwhile, global emissions are spiralling upwards again as the economy recovers and surging fossil fuel prices are driving fears that a new wave of high carbon infrastructure investment could yet be unleashed.
RenewableUK's CEO Dan McGrail: 'The industry has gained trust by over-delivering - we need to keep doing that'
Business Green
OCTOBER 25, 2021
Johnson's government is targeting 40GW of offshore wind and 1GW of floating wind capacity by 2030, and recently set an ambition for the UK's power grid to be net zero emission by 2035. Taken together, it puts wind power firmly at the heart of the drive to electrify and decarbonise the UK economy over the next 30 years and beyond.
Hydrogen 38
38 
What does success look like for COP26?
Business Green
OCTOBER 21, 2021
Organisers are painfully aware of how logistical woes became a leitmotif for the diplomatic disaster of the Copenhagen Summit. As fears of a 'COP flop' get an airing, the battle to define what constitutes a successful Glasgow Summit is hotting up. COP26 is having its first major wobble.
COP 90
90 
Global Briefing: UAE, South Korea, and Turkey unveil fresh climate pledges in boost to COP26 prospects
Business Green
OCTOBER 8, 2021
UAE becomes first Gulf State to set net zero target. With under a month to go until the COP26 Climate Summit in Glasgow the meeting received a triple boost this week, as the UAE, Turkey, and South Korea all announced new net zero targets. South Korea drastically increases emissions goal.
COP26: Rich nations prepare to ramp up climate funding package
Business Green
OCTOBER 25, 2021
Momentum builds ahead of Glasgow Summit as Saudi Arabia and China unveil new climate plans, but questions remain over whether new funding pledges will go far enough. The UK hosts of the Summit are to present the new plan alongside Ministers from Germany and Canada, who were tasked with leading efforts to ensure the $100bn target is delivered.
Packaging 47
47 
Microgrids missing from Biden’s solar plan
Renewable Energy World
OCTOBER 13, 2021
Yet in the DOE’s Solar Futures Studies Report, which offers a blueprint for the zero-carbon grid, the US has not risen to the occasion. It says, “We estimate that roughly 80%–90% of that capacity will be utility-scale solar, with the remainder coming from smaller-scale distributed solar.” This is no policy, no strategy.
Innovation 133
133 
What the G7 and COP26 summits can teach us about putting on sustainable events
Business Green
OCTOBER 17, 2021
However, the attendees' carbon emissions from a single event can pale in comparison to the prize of tangible progress and decisive action on climate change agreed. When Arup was appointed sustainability advisor of the G7 Summit, we were in a critical role to help influence how sustainability is being embedded into these major events.
The plastics crisis: Are we investing in the right solutions?
Business Green
OCTOBER 20, 2021
On the other hand solutions, such as separate collection and reuse/refill models present a much larger opportunity than many imagine - and are one of the keys to unlocking a circular-economy. On its current trajectory - and without significant and coordinated action - the plastic pollution crisis is set to get much worse.
Plastics 38
38 
'Success is entirely possible': COP26 opens amid flurry of fresh national climate pledges
Business Green
OCTOBER 31, 2021
Negotiations over the next two weeks are expected to be fraught amid competing priorities from different nations, further exacerbated by brittle trust between richer and poorer economies over financial support to fund climate adaptation measures. We have no choice but to make COP26 a success," Espinosa said.
COP26 Climate Summit: What should business leaders expect?
Business Green
OCTOBER 29, 2021
On the eve of the Glasgow Summit, green business, economy and diplomacy experts gave BusinessGreen an exclusive overview of their hopes, fears, and expectations for the two weeks of talks. COP26, in contrast, is about building on what was achieved in Paris. It's about showing the Paris Agreement we agreed five years ago is working.
COP 45
45 
Global Briefing: China and US ramp up pre-COP26 domestic climate plans
Business Green
OCTOBER 29, 2021
China confirms net zero goal in updated NDC, but analysts warn more ambition still needed. The long-awaited document contained few surprises, but the plans did put President Xi Jinping's pledge to deliver a 'carbon neutral' economy by 2060 on a formal footing. The planet can't afford this being the last word. "The
Keeping 1.5C alive: Is COP26 on track to deliver on its goals?
Business Green
OCTOBER 20, 2021
Late last month Swedish campaigner Greta Thunberg's offered an inimitable assessment of the climate talks to date, dismissing them as "blah, blah, blah", as she again decried the failure of governments to actually curb global emissions. alive', despite widespread scepticism amongst environmental activists.
Let's personalize your content