Chamber of commerce Business West is calling on the government to provide more support to help companies address the climate emergency.
Many business leaders in the West of England are concerned they lack the knowledge and resources to take action, a new report has revealed.
According to the survey of 475 SMEs, nearly 70% said they considered climate change to be a "core business issue", but more than a quarter (28%) said they do not have the funds to decarbonise operations.
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Other barriers cited in the report include competing priorities (26%), a lack of knowledge (24%) and changing policies and regulations (24%).
Of the businesses that consider climate an important issue, 46% have already implemented plans and processes to reduce carbon emissions and environmental impact.
A total of 31% have done something on a smaller scale - such as switching to a renewable energy supplier - while 21% have not done anything.
The news follows the publication of a landmark scientific report by the UN, which found that humans are driving levels of global warming to unprecedented levels.
According to UN secretary general António Guterres, the report is "code red for humanity".
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Business West said it was "clear" that businesses needed "much more support" from the government if the 海角视频 is to reach its net-zero target by 2050.
Nina Skubala, head of climate strategy at Business West, said the government needed to provide further support to help firms "meet the challenges" of climate change.
“Climate change is a defining issue of our time and businesses now know that they can make a pivotal contribution towards the rapid transitions required to overcome the challenges that it poses," she said.
“However, without a ramping up of support, businesses fear that they lack the knowledge and resources to be able to do their bit and get to grips with the climate crisis. This needs to change and efforts to decarbonise our economy need to be significantly accelerated.
“Against this background, we are calling on the government to commit to providing further support to business communities to empower them to prepare and adapt to meet the challenges of climate change and aid the transition to a sustainable and resilient regional economy.”
Business West said it is already carbon neutral and is aiming to become the first chamber of commerce in the 海角视频 to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2030.
A BEIS spokesperson said: “Taking action on climate change will help businesses seize new opportunities, create new jobs and encourage investment. Reducing emissions can lower running costs, save money and attract new customers – ultimately helping businesses maintain a competitive advantage locally and globally.
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“We know that some businesses may find this daunting, but our ‘Together for Our Planet’ campaign is specifically targeted at providing SMEs with the practical tools, resources and advice they need to understand their emissions and develop a plan to tackle them. We would encourage businesses across the South West to sign up without delay.”
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