The Road to Net Zero

What is Net Zero?

The term Net Zero is cropping up a lot in the media and online, mainly to do with lowering carbon emissions but what does it actually mean?

The technical term for Net Zero is Carbon Neutrality. The EU parliament defines carbon neutrality ‘as a state of net-zero carbon dioxide emissions. This can be achieved by balancing emissions of carbon dioxide with its removal or by eliminating emissions from society.’

Essentially, it is a balance of when the amount of Co2 (carbon dioxide) a nation is adding, is no more than the amount being taken away. This net zero goal helps act as a guide to substantially reduce our carbon emissions so there’s no net increase in Co2 and what we do over the next decade regarding this issue will have a major impact on the future of the world we live in.

UK’s Net Zero 2050 target

In June 2019, The UK today became the first major economy in the world to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050.

The Department for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy writes that ‘The target will require the UK to bring all greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050, compared with the previous target of at least 80% reduction from 1990 levels.’

Now with the UK fully committed to achieving net zero by 2050, many organisations are going to have to start setting their own goals regarding lowering their carbon footprint. Businesses across the UK can begin to get ahead with adopting renewable practices and by doing so, enjoy the benefits of having a net zero business more quickly.

The Future of the UK Net Zero 2050 Target

Two of the highest carbon emitting sectors for the UK is Energy and Transport due to the usage of fossil fuels.

Transport

The government has released a new plan to decarbonise UK transport to be in line with the Net Zero by 2050 target – the plan covers private and public transport, freight, rail, shipping and aviation, prioritising the shift to a decarbonised and green transport sector.

Some of the key commitments included in the plan are:

• A ban on the sale of new diesel/petrol vans and lorries by 2040
• A net zero rail network by 2050
• Net zero domestic aviation emissions by 2040 leading the transition to green shipping

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps says ​​“Alongside the plan we have published, a consultation on phasing out the sale of all new non-zero emission heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) by 2040, demonstrating our commitment to tackle the second largest source of domestic transport carbon emissions and furthering our ambition to decarbonise UK roads.”

The announcements, which also include plans for maritime and rail, have also come up against some criticism.

Stefanie O’Gorman, director of city economics at Ramboll warns “Setting the world-leading target of banning all polluting vehicles by 2050 is certainly a bold and decisive step but the government needs to be careful with such a blanket policy approach to decarbonising transport. To make a real difference to people’s attitudes towards cars and transport, solutions need to be tailored to the needs of individual regions and populations. Without a carefully thought-out approach, these ambitious targets could be difficult to deliver.”

Energy

Recently, the UK offered up a milestone subsidy scheme where ‘renewable energy developers will compete for a share in a £265m subsidy pot as the government aims to support a record number of projects in the sector.’

‘Under the scheme, offshore wind developers will compete for contracts worth up to £200m a year, and onshore wind and solar farms will be in line for their first subsidies in more than five years. Alongside the £200m funding pot for offshore wind farms, there will be a further £55m available to emerging renewable technologies such as tidal power, of which £24m will be earmarked for floating offshore wind farms.’

Referred to as the “biggest ever renewable support scheme”, the £265m in subsidies sets a precedent in which to provide support for an affordable and clean energy future in the UK.

‘Anne-Marie Trevelyan, the energy minister, said the latest round of the support scheme would “support the next generation of renewable electricity projects needed to power our homes” and help meet the UK’s climate targets.’

How can I Offset my Business Emissions?

In the long run, achieving net zero isn’t only just about cutting emissions. These legislations can set a foundation and bring about a way of life that promotes healthy living, cleaner air, greener spaces and a respect for our wildlife and the world in which we live – building a sustainable future for our children, grandchildren and generations to come.

The purpose of this blog is to demystify the term net zero and provide businesses with the spark to begin thinking about how they themselves could make headways and start the transition over to renewable energies.

Here at Total BGS Energy, we can help you source renewable energy and green contracts. We work with some of the best energy providers in the UK offering both green and non-green electric and gas contracts, providing your workplace with a full service from inception to installation.

We offer a non biased consultation service, if you are looking to switch to renewable energy we can advise based on real world testing and usage, what could be the right fit for you and your business.

Author

Woody Taylor

Marketing and Branding Executive