Scottish Enterprise is launching a free online Net Zero Accelerator tool to support Scottish firms to further develop net zero plans.

The new tool will help businesses by making recommendations across five key areas on how they can adapt and work towards developing a practical, data-led, and people-focused net zero road map.

Companies using the tool can analyse the impact of their operations on the environment to help them set net zero targets as well as identify opportunities to innovate or adapt.

The tool also looks at leadership and staff engagement on climate change issues so that businesses can take staff on the journey to net zero with them.

According to the Office for National Statistics, only 23% of companies with 250+ employees have a climate change strategy in place and figures from the British Business Bank highlight that only 9% of SMEs in the UK are measuring their carbon footprint.

A more positive trend in research from the Fraser of Allander Institute shows that 59% of Scottish businesses have either committed to, or achieved, net zero targets, slightly ahead of the rest of the UK at around 57%.

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Ian Carstairs sustainability team leader at Scottish Enterprise said: “Scotland hosted COP26 in Glasgow last year, but we need to maintain the momentum and encourage action to further the economic and ecological advantage for Scotland.

“We are supporting more businesses to reduce their environmental impact and have made great progress with a quarter of our projects in 2021/22 equating to over 3,250 green jobs and delivering a reduction of over 280,000 tonnes of Co2.

“The free tool launching today will help more companies accelerate their journey to net zero as Scotland has huge potential in this area and we are fully committed to grasping the net zero opportunities that will deliver a just and fair economic transformation.”

Feedback from Scottish Enterprise supported firms highlighted that companies are looking to adopt greener practices due to consumer demand, as well as attracting staff and government support available to sustainable initiatives.

The fluctuating cost of energy is also a concern, and the Net Zero Accelerator tool includes the use of resources in the mix to guide businesses on ways to reduce costs too.

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