Retailers urged to make net zero commitment ahead of COP26 conference

Ahead of a global climate conference in Scotland in November, UK Net Zero Business Champion Andrew Griffith MP has urged the retail sector to make a formal commitment to net zero.

In an open letter to the sector, Griffith asked retailers to join the Together For Our Planet ‘Business Climate Leaders’ campaign, which supports small businesses to make net zero pledge and reduce their carbon footprint, in the run up to the United Nations COP26 Climate Conference in Glasgow in November.

”The retail sector is a key part of our economy and has an important role to play in making a net zero commitment,” Griffith wrote in the letter. “Making greener choices now can mean savings on business running costs, and also show customers the retail sector continues to be serious about sustainability.”

The government has developed new advice bespoke to the retail sector as part of the UK Business Climate Hub website, outlining the small steps businesses can take to fight climate change.

Griffith said businesses can take the first step on their journey to a low carbon future by committing to cutting their carbon emissions in half by 2030 and to reach ‘net zero’ by 2050 by visiting the UK Business Climate Hub.

“By making this pledge, they will be joining an international community of thousands of likeminded businesses, and will be recognised by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign as one of thousands of ‘climate leaders’ across the country – companies that are acting as role models and inspiring others in the community to find meaningful ways to take positive environmental action,” he added.