Businesses pledge to reduce their carbon footprint net zero event held at Formby Hall near Southport

Thirty Sefton businesses have pledged to reduce their carbon outputs following their attendance at InvestSefton’s net zero workshop.

The event, organised by Sefton Council’s business growth service, saw local businesses gather at Formby Hall to understand how they could play a role in tackling the climate emergency.

Leading climate academics from Liverpool John Moores University (LJMU) outlined why businesses should be making a net zero carbon commitment, and the steps that they can take to reach that goal with free, hands-on support available through the university.

Representatives from the Council’s Energy and Environmental Management team also delivered a session on the practical steps businesses can take to reduce energy consumption - which should reduce emissions while also saving them money.

As a result, 30 businesses based in the Borough have now pledged to calculate and review their current carbon emissions and to set their own targets for becoming net carbon zero in the future.  

Sefton Council Leader, Cllr Ian Maher, said:

“Off the back of many of the world’s business leaders discussing how to tackle the climate emergency at this month’s COP26, it’s been exciting to see a very similar collaboration taking place here among Sefton’s entrepreneurs and professionals.

“Decarbonising will play a massive role in mitigating the impact of climate change and it is therefore the responsibility of all of us, the Council, local business leaders and residents, to ensure that we are doing all we can to cut the emissions we produce.

“To see 30 local businesses now pledging to do just this shows that they are committed to working with us to protect our Borough, and ultimately our planet.”

The idea of working together for our planet, and pledging to cut carbon emissions, is something that organisations of all sizes around the UK are being encouraged to do by the UK government. Further information for businesses can be found online at the Business Climate Hub: https://businessclimatehub.org/uk/

Sefton Council itself has committed to becoming net carbon zero by 2030 as a business and has already made a 10% reduction in its emissions in the first year of its Action Plan. Savings on energy consumption and agile working practices have driven this reduction and projects currently in progress are likely to save a further 17% in emissions upon completion; saving energy and money long term.

Any Sefton business interested in attending a future InvestSefton event can sign up to the mailing list via email [email protected].

More information about InvestSefton, Sefton Council’s enterprise, business support and inward investment service, can be found at: www.investsefton.com

Far left, Julia Thorpe Sefton Council; Left, Julie Swarbrick InvestSefton, Middle to Right event speakers from Liverpool John Moores University.