The climate crisis has escalated to a new degree in the last year, as tangible impacts of pollution in the form of unpredictable weather events wrack communities globally. The effects of global warming reached Europe this summer, while record flooding in Pakistan displaced millions – and ruined millions of acres of arable land.
Globally, governments are taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and prevent the biggest existential crisis to mankind. Not only will new climate laws impact the average citizen, but also the operations of businesses that shoulder the lion’s share of responsibility for emissions.
Energy transition lawyers are crucial to leading the way for businesses seeking compliance with new and upcoming climate legislation – whether building solar panels for completely renewable energy sources or instituting effective and equitable carbon offset strategies that do not fall foul of expected standards.
The struggle may seem an uphill one for many businesses, but businesses in the UK are already demonstrating what climate accountability can look like. What follow are three large-scale UK operations that are actively working to meet and exceed sustainability guidelines.
BT
BT is one of the UK’s leading business success stories, being a globally recognized telecommunications conglomerate with a wide variety of products in both B2B and B2C spheres. Its commitment to clean energy is a landmark one, which sets the stage for other businesses to follow suit.
The biggest measure it has undertaken to achieve its own clean energy milestones is a complete switch to renewable energy sources where possible. BT is one of the largest clients for electricity in the country, owing to the size and scope of its network – hence, its energy burden is uniquely high. A switch to renewable sources is a profound victory against greenhouse gas emissions, though it remains a work in progress; renewable energy is not always available on the grid, necessitating controversial carbon offsetting elsewhere.
Sky
Sky is another communications giant in the UK, and another household name with unique awareness, reach and trust. Not only has it built a solid reputation amongst a wide and diverse customer base, but it has been leading the way on environmental strategy for some time.
Sky has been advocating for green alternatives since the early 2000s, but is redoubling its carbon neutrality efforts in aiming for ‘net-zero’ by 2030. It aims to achieve this in a number of key ways, from changes to existing technology to congruent reforestation and carbon offset initiatives.
British Land
While not a household name, British Land is nonetheless an industry leader in the world of property development. It is responsible for some of the UK’s best-loved private spaces, from gardens in London to Meadowhall in Sheffield. Its climate commitments are similarly bold, with net-zero commitments pegged for 2030.
These measures come in the form of retrofitting older spaces with efficient technology and reducing operational carbon footprints by three-quarters over the next eight years.
