While in Glasgow for COP26 I launched Labour’s small business roundtables alongside Anas Sarwar, Leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Daniel Johnson MSP, Scottish Labour’s finance spokesperson.
It was great to talk with small businesses based in Glasgow about their plans to decarbonise, along with the need for a Government roadmap to help get to net zero. Small businesses are being asked to transition without clear advice or guidance about the steps they should take and being asked to do so whilst dealing with high levels of debt, the cost of living crisis and ongoing staff shortages. This cannot go on; we need to see long term planning that boosts business confidence. That’s why Labour have announced our Climate Investment Pledge to 2030, investing an additional £28bn a year to 2030 mobilising businesses and financial institutions behind climate action.
A recent report from the Federation of Small Businesses has highlighted that many firms do not have the capital or knowledge necessary to make investments in their sustainability. It was great to meet with Anas and Daniel and speak with them about the support small businesses in Scotland need to reduce their carbon emissions and move towards net zero.