‘Tech Zero taskforce’: UK tech firms to inform Government’s net-zero approach
Fast-growing UK tech firms including Bulb, Starling Bank and Olio have formed a new taskforce that will inform the government’s green policymaking and garner industry support ahead of COP26.
Called the ‘Tech Zero taskforce’, the organisation will work in partnership with the Council for Sustainable Business – the body set up by Defra to enable dialogue with the private sector on the 25-Year Environment Plan – and the COP26 Unit. Its key COP26 contact is the UK’s Net Zero Business Champion Andrew Griffith MP.
Specifically, it will develop a set of “bold commitments” that tech firms can sign up to ahead of COP26, to help deliver a unified approach to climate action and ambition across the sector. The aim will be to get 100 signatories.
The body will also produce a ‘Tech Zero toolkit’ explaining climate concepts and buzzwords to businesses.
In addition to this engagement across the broader tech sector, the taskforce will develop recommendations for policy changes that will enable a more rapid low-carbon transition. The UK Government has notably vowed to publish a ‘roadmap’ to net-zero covering all major sectors ahead of COP26 in Glasgow this November.
Bulb’s chief executive and co-founder Hayden Wood is leading the new taskforce. The founding business members are allplants, Bulb, Babylon, Citymapper, Faculty, GoCardless, Habito, Hopin, MoneySuperMarket Group, Olio, Onfido, Revolut, Starling Bank, Wise, what3words and Transferwise. Industry body Tech Nation is also providing support.
“We need bold action to avert the climate crisis, so we’ve brought together the UK’s most exciting and innovative tech companies to determine the best path to net zero as fast as possible,” Bulb’s Wood said.
“Tech Zero will go beyond targets – we want to boost access to finance and make the UK the number one destination for green investment in the world.”
Tech for good
Several members of the new Taskforce offer products and services that inherently have environmental benefits. Bulb only supplies renewable electricity and also offsets emissions from all gas supplied to customers, for example, while allplants produces plant-based meals in what it describes as ‘upcycled’ packaging.
Olio’s surplus food redistribution platform, meanwhile, is being used by businesses including Costa and Cranswick. Mitigating food waste can have significant impacts on climate and social sustainability as well as resource efficiency.
