What can small businesses expect from the COP26 Summit?
The upcoming COP26 Summit in Glasgow will be a monumental moment for the fight against global warming. For two weeks, the conference will bring global parties together – including policymakers, scientists, and the private sector – to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
China and the US, jointly responsible for more than 40% of the world’s carbon emissions, have recently issued a joint statement on climate co-operation. China has pledged to deliver peak emissions by 2030 and carbon neutrality by 2060, while the US aims to reduced carbon emissions by 50-52% below 2005 levels by 2030. The UK, on the other hand, target vows to slash emissions by 78% by 2035.
As we move past the pandemic, and face this next challenge, the small-to-medium-sized business community is the key to substantive change. Having been the backbone of the private sector, SMEs will need to have a seat at the policy table to help shape the future green economy we so desperately need to embrace.
With recent news suggesting that London reigns supreme as the world’s greenest finance hub, racing ahead of its European rivals to claim the sustainability crown, we are definitely on the right path. The capital has the best sustainability standards in the world, hosting a vibrant green finance sector that is at the cutting edge of developing new financial products to combat climate change. Its renewable energy infrastructure, compounded by access to deep, highly skilled talent pools and a booming green finance sector makes London the cream of the crop of the world’s most environmentally friendly finance centres.
At IW Capital, we have invested in several companies in the green and sustainability sector including Save Money Cut Carbon who have recently created a COP26 quiz to test your knowledge. More importantly, Save Money Cut Carbon helps businesses and homeowners take practical steps to be more sustainable, cutting energy & water bills resulting in reduced carbon footprint. This is one way to get involved and contribute to the fight against global warming and climate change.
From what we have seen at IWC, SMEs will become even more important to the UK economy and its move to cut carbon emissions, both domestically and internationally. There is a huge amount of talent and ambition in Britain’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and helping them go global should be high on the government’s agenda. The investment community that backs these SMEs will also play an important role and it is therefore hugely encouraging to see that 45% of UK investors looking to back green and sustainable firms this year.
To find out more about IW Capital, or for more information on investment and non-executive opportunities, please speak to a member of the IW Capital team today on 020 7015 2250, or email info@iwcapital.co.uk