The global fight against a climate emergency is on, and the business community has a part to play - no matter the size of the business or the sector it operates in.

Here at Buckinghamshire Business First, we are not only looking at how we can reduce plastics, waste and carbon in our own business, we are looking at how our community of local businesses can drive innovation and change in their own organisations to contribute towards a Net Zero Buckinghamshire economy.

To that end, we are pulling together inspiration, ideas and resources that we have developed over 10 years of delivering low carbon-focused initiatives.

This page is in no way exhaustive and will be updated as required. If you can recommend useful resources we can share with the Buckinghamshire business community, email our team at news@bbf.uk.com.

We are delighted to announce our pledge to help reduce climate change by halving our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050. In doing so, we are proud to be recognised by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign.

Read all about our pledge, why it matters and how your organisation can join the Race to Zero.

Join the campaign to contribute towards a Net Zero Buckinghamshire and tell us what you are already doing to reduce your carbon output or the steps you plan to take.

Get involved here >

We’re collecting stories and ideas from businesses large and small about how little changes can make a massive impact.

Read about some great low carbon initiatives undertaken by businesses >

SME Climate Hub

The SME Climate Hub is a pioneering global initiative that aims to bring wider attention to the need for climate action and how cutting emissions can help businesses build resilience and grow.

Read about the SME Climate Hub here, (This link is for the UK branch of the Climate Hub. See the international homepage here.)

E-learning platform to aid disclosures of climate-related information

The TCFD Learning Hub is an e-learning platform that has been designed to help organisations enhance their disclosures of climate-related information.

The courses were developed with the insight from industry experts and will be CPD accredited. Companies, investors and finance professionals can partake in courses that are self-paced and based on activity and video-learning.

View the e-learning courses here >

Increasing board level understanding of climate change threats and opportunitie

Chapter Zero is a network of company chairs, committee chairs and non-executive directors, committed to developing their knowledge of the implications of climate change for UK business.

The name of the network, Chapter Zero, reflects the drive towards a net zero carbon economy and the major role business will play in achieving it.

Learn more about Chapter Zero >

Aldersgate Group – making the business case for a low-carbon economy

The Aldersgate Group is a politically impartial, multi-stakeholder alliance championing a competitive and environmentally sustainable economy. Through targeted political engagement, evidence gathering and policy development, they advocate the business case for decarbonising the UK economy, improving resource efficiency and investing in the natural environment.

Learn more about the group >

Prince of Wales Corporate Leaders’ Group

The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group aims to provide a strong voice to support UK leadership both nationally and internationally on the shift towards a climate neutral, resource efficient, socially inclusive economy by 2050.

Learn more >

Bringing sustainable innovations to scale

The Climate Group brings together businesses and governments to act as a catalyst to take sustainable innovations and solutions to scale.

Discover more >

Businesses competing to be best for the world

The B Economy is a concept whereby businesses compete to be best for the world, its people and the environment.

Learn more about it here >

Managing your climate change risk

Learn how to measure and manage any risks or opportunities that can arise as a result of climate change.

Learn more about it here >

Discover how quickly you need to reduce your carbon emissions

The website sciencebasedtargets.org allows companies to see how quickly they need to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Learn what corporate science-based emissions targets are and why they matter.

UN Global Compact – doing business responsibly

A call to companies to align strategies and operations with universal principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption, and take actions that advance societal goals. To make this happen, the UN Global Compact supports companies to:

• Do business responsibly by aligning their strategies and operations with Ten Principles on human rights, labour, environment and anti-corruption; and
• Take strategic actions to advance broader societal goals, such as the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with an emphasis on collaboration and innovation.

We Mean Business – influencing action on climate change

We Mean Business is a global non-profit coalition working with the world’s most influential businesses to take action on climate change.

The Growth Programme

The Buckinghamshire Business First Growth Programme offers grant funding and expert advice to help your business prepare for and deal with whatever the future holds.

High-Value Manufacturing Catapult

Established by Innovate UK the High-Value Manufacturing Catapult bridges the gap between business and academia, helping to turn great ideas into reality by providing access to world-class research and development facilities and expertise that would otherwise be out of reach for many businesses in the UK.

Low Carbon Workspaces grant

Low Carbon Workspaces delivers grant funding to businesses to help them implement energy saving measures, such as efficient boilers, LEDs, electric vehicles and more. The website also features a green suppliers directory, making it easier for businesses to find energy saving products and services.

Barclays Green Loan

A Barclays Green Loan can help you fund sustainability projects in your business.

Lloyds Bank Clean Growth Finance Initiative

Discover the Lloyds Bank Clean Growth Finance Initiative – this is discounted lending that can support small or large investments in sustainability by businesses.

Lloyds also produces guides and reports on sustainability to help businesses make the most of the opportunities that a sustainable agenda brings. Visit the Lloyds website here, and filter the results for 'Sustainability'.