Climate Change

Blackpool Council has published a Climate Emergency Action Plan setting out how the council and town can aim to significantly reduce carbon emissions, Blackpool Unlimited are therefore presenting a guide to climate change which will help you make informed decisions to make changes to your business.

How your business could make a difference?

No matter how small your business, what industry or part of the UK you’re in, your commitment could make a real difference – to the planet, to your customers and to your running costs! Even the smallest businesses produce carbon emissions – it could be through your building, your vehicles or your suppliers. We’re asking you to take the first step on your journey, by committing to cutting those carbon emissions in half by 2030 and to reach ‘net zero’ by 2050. Net zero means that you are putting no more carbon into the atmosphere than you are taking out of it. (UK Business Climate Hub)

We've put together this guide of ideas and inspiration on how to implement change to reduce carbon omissions in your business.

Please have a look to see how you can make a start today:

Firstly, you should start with a baseline, what are your carbon emissions right now. Your baseline could be the current year, or a recent prior reporting year where you can easily access the data required. You need to know where you’re starting to be able to set targets and steadily reduce your carbon impact.
Become familiar with what counts towards your carbon emissions – it can be everything from gas usage to business travel.
Then take steps to review your decarbonisation option – the tools and resources section have lots of ideas to help. Consider how you would financially manage these changes, some steps can save money, but others may need investment.
Generate your own action plan and engage your employees to get their ideas and importantly, their buy-in. Offer incentives where possible to encourage participation – it needs to be a group effort.
Measure your carbon emissions annually, ideally at the end of each reporting year for consistency – track your progress and make changes to your action plan if needed.
Reach out to your suppliers, often goods and services purchased are one of the highest carbon emitters for a business – do they have sustainable alternatives, what are they doing to reduce their own carbon emissions? By reducing their emissions, it will reduce yours and others in their supply chain.
Keep an eye out for grants and speak to the Sustainability Team at Blackpool Council
Watch your carbon emissions reduce and share the good news with your customers, employees and networks.

Tools and resources

Blackpool Unlimited's FREE Sustainability Toolkit

Your essential guide to save cost and reduce carbon footprint

This toolkit is designed to help you take control of your energy use, cut costs, and drive real progress toward your sustainability goals. Whether you're just getting started or refining your strategy, you'll find practical insights, expert advice, and actionable steps to support your journey to Net Zero.

Free Guide: How to get started with sustainability - Download FSB’s free guide and find out how you can start your journey to net zero. It's packed with practical advice and tips to help you reduce your carbon footprint and make a difference for tomorrow.

Tools - SME Climate hub (businessclimatehub.org) - The SME Climate Hub is a global initiative that aims to mainstream climate action in the small to medium sized business community, and enable SMEs to build resilient businesses for the future.

Top tips on how to decarbonise your business - Top tips from Electricity North West for businesses to do now to decarbonise.

Sustainability for SMEs - British Business Bank - British Business Bank is the UK’s national development bank that provides free financial tools and information on how to create a sustainable business and prepare for green growth.

Support & Funding

The MaCaW project is an academic/industry collaboration designed to assist Lancashire SMEs in overcoming the challenges and barriers in moving towards a low carbon economic model. They will work with you and your business to implement low energy practices and processes to reduce your carbon burden as well as making cost savings. The project is funded by the European Regional Development Fund and delivered by the University of Central Lancashire

Chamber Low Carbon gives SMEs free ‘1-2-1’ consulting to improve energy efficiency and develop low carbon products. Must be based in Lancashire

Support for SMEs to design and run research and innovation projects - Eco-I NW is a £14m business Research and Development (R&D) programme which will support small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) across the North West (Cumbria, Lancashire, Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire and Warrington).