Why do we need a new vision for reaching Net Zero? Part one.

A seemingly insurmountable task?

The picture being painted around the impact humankind is having on the planet can seem increasingly bleak. We are experiencing the very real impacts of the climate crisis, alongside an increasing pressure to act and make positive change in every part of our lives.

While it will undoubtedly be the personal, emotive desire to create positive change that drives the seismic shifts needed to halt and ultimately reverse the climate crisis, this expectation can take its own toll. And no more so perhaps than for people working within businesses and organisations, who are tasked with meeting Net Zero commitments and sustainability targets.

Turning Net Zero ambition into action can seem easier said than done, and even when working within an organisation that is engaged and has a clear desire to commit to change, that change sits beyond a seemingly endless set of hurdles.

Taking the first, or next, step can be the hardest part.

That’s why we’re here.

A new vision for reaching Net Zero.

Equity Energies is not just another Net Zero consultancy. We offer a new approach, built around a new ethos – that of energy equity.

This is the belief that every organisation should have access to the right advice, knowledge and solutions to advance its pathway to Net Zero. This, in turn, means benefitting from the value that is created and unlocked when energy strategy is used as a catalyst for sustainable business performance.

Crucial to this approach is recognising that every organisation is different and will have its own unique requirements, so no two Net Zero pathways are ever the same. An equitable approach comes from providing the right information, planning and execution that each organisation needs – a unique pathway.

For us, a solution-agnostic approach is also vital. Net Zero pathway design should happen in direct response to an organisation’s unique requirements, with a focus on commercial viability first, and then progress to execution that only deploys the solutions and technologies that are the right fit. Too often we see solution vendors trying to meet sales targets, pushing products on to customers whether they are the right fit or not.

For every client we work with, the pathway and how it is executed will be different, even if they are of the same size or in the same sector.

The first step in overcoming a complex and confusing energy landscape.

Our mission goes beyond our immediate client relationships. We want to inspire and support organisations across the UK to overcome the unnecessarily complex energy landscape which they are forced to navigate, and the many barriers to Net Zero progress that still exist.

Key to unlocking this is democratising the knowledge, expertise and tools needed to create energy equity, so more organisations can take their first, or next, step.

In fact, the question I am asked the most is, “what should our first step be?”

Sadly, there is no silver bullet solution for reaching Net Zero; it’s this simple fact that creates so much inaction, because individuals and their organisations just don’t know what to do next.

However, while every organisation is unique, there is a universal starting point – regardless too of size or sector – that its always worth investigating first. Baselining.

Check back to read part two, where we explore baselining and the importance of business continuity, on the pathway to Net Zero.

This article first appeared in The Big Zero Show Report.

Article written by Martin Hamilton, Sustainability Consulting Director.