Smaller businesses estimated to account for
50%
of all UK business-driven emissions
Smaller businesses are mostly at the early stages of transition
76%
are yet to implement a decarbonisation strategy
but 94%
of smaller businesses said they have taken at least one action to reduce their emissions
Awareness is becoming significant, although attitudes are split
57%
of smaller businesses are aware of the government’s commitment to reach net zero emissions by 2050
47%
of smaller businesses state carbon reduction is a high or very high priority
53%
are not yet ready to prioritise decarbonisation
Barriers are multiple, complex, and business specific
35%
cited costs as a barrier for reducing carbon emissions including upfront costs, with smaller businesses identifying more than 20 barriers preventing actions on net zero
32%
cited feasibility, such as lack of control due to tenancy agreements or lack of an appropriate technology
12%
cited lack of information
Finance as an enabler to net zero transition
11%
of smaller businesses have accessed external finance to support net zero actions so far, equating to 700k businesses
22%
are prepared to access external finance to support net zero actions in the next five years, equating to 1.3m businesses