Climax Community’s interactive platform, Climate Essentials, is a data-driven software that enables organisations (specifically SMEs) to measure, track and reduce their carbon emissions. In this blog post, Brodie Weir, who leads on their marketing and communications, outlines the importance of data in measuring emissions and shares some tips on how businesses can go about this. 

Making up 50% of national emissions, SMEs are crucial for advancing national net zero goals. More than ever climate action makes commercial sense, and businesses that act now will become the changemakers of the future. Data shows us the need for urgent climate action but data also has a role in the journey to the solution.

Data science has had a transformative effect on how businesses and consumers interact. Products have become more consumer-friendly, operations more efficient, and marketing more direct – but the phenomenon of data isn’t only useful for driving business growth and customer satisfaction. Big data analytics also has a profound impact on SMEs’ role in confronting the big challenges of a polluted world.

Decarbonising your business operations as an SME is more important than ever. Last year’s atmospheric carbon dioxide levels were the highest ever recorded, so the window to limit emissions output and global warming is becoming increasingly short. By implementing an effective data analytics strategy for monitoring emissions, companies can integrate emissions data management into their systems to quickly analyse data, understand the environmental results, and forecast reduction scenarios.

There are some important things to consider when building a emissions focussed data strategy:

1. Ensure the data collected is consistent, relevant, and regularly updated
2. Align the analysis of data with businesses objectives and wider climate initiatives (Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Science Based Targets Initiative)
3. Integrate data collection into company culture, behaviours, and relationships by keeping all stakeholders informed and making the processes collaborative and educational

Building a data analytics strategy for your business’ emissions is crucial for achieving net zero objectives by 2050. An effective strategy requires a company-scale review which includes an analysis of operations, employees, supply chains, vendors, and all other emissions producing processes. Having data that is comprehensive, trustworthy and secure is the foundation for businesses to communicate with stakeholders and deliver on emissions pledges.

This month Climax Community will be exhibiting at the Festival of Sustainable Business at Paintworks on 23 June – find them at stand 50!