What your business can do to tackle climate change

Climate change is the term used to describe changes to the planet's long-term weather patterns and average temperatures. 

What are carbon emissions?

Burning fossil fuels like gas, coal and oil produces energy. But they also release greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous monoxide into the air. Once they're in the atmosphere, they form a blanket around the planet. This traps the heat from the sun and causes the earth to get hotter.

Find out more about the cause and impact of climate change (opens new window)

Carbon emissions are classed under three Scopes, depending on where the emissions come from:

• Scope 1 - this one means emissions that a company or organisation makes directly, like fuel burnt from running vehicles or gas used in heating or cooking
• Scope 2 - this one means emissions that are caused indirectly from energy bought and used, like electricity used to in lighting within a building
• Scope 3 - these are not produced by an organisation or company themselves, but indirectly as a consequence, like emissions produced when making, transporting and disposing of a light bulb in a building

Net zero means no longer adding to the total amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. We're committed to achieving net zero within scope 1 and 2, across all council services by 2030. 

Your businesses journey to net zero

The Surrey Sustainable Business Network offers free, impartial advice to help Surrey-based organisations decarbonise and become more sustainable. 

Find out more about the Surrey Sustainable Business Network (opens new window)

Find out what businesses can do now to lower their emissions (opens new window)

Find out more about calculating your carbon footprint (opens new window)