New pilot project in Hampshire aims to help local organisations to cut emissions

Local businesses, charities and social enterprises are being invited to apply to take part in a new pilot project in Hampshire aimed at helping them to cut emissions.

Launching in the spring, the pilot will see Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council’s partner Climate Essentials offer a year’s worth of support to 10 local organisations to help them operate more sustainably.

Providing one-to-one guidance and advice, Climate Essentials will help businesses, charities and social enterprises to measure their carbon footprint, audit their operations and make realistic plans for reducing their emissions as well as helping them to explore the wider benefits of taking action.

Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Action Cllr Hayley Eachus said: “In addition to cutting their carbon emissions, going greener can offer these organisations a range of other benefits.

"This includes increasing their appeal to environmentally conscious customers and residents and saving them money in the long term.

“Provided our pilot project goes well, we will consider how we can build on its success as we continue to support these local organisations to play their part in achieving the ambitious target for a net zero carbon borough by 2030.”

The pilot runs alongside other council support for businesses to decarbonise. This includes a recently-launched climate change toolkit for businesses to help them understand how to cut their emissions and supporting the local Sustainable Business Network as a forum for sharing knowledge and best practice.

Aiming to build on this existing support, proposals for a council green team to give sustainability advice to businesses and communities are also set to be considered by councillors on February 23 as part of the council’s budget proposals for 2023/24.

Founded in 2019, Climate Essentials is a software platform that helps organisations to measure and reduce their carbon emissions. The Climate Essentials team is experienced in engaging with and empowering small to medium-sized organisations to take control of their carbon footprint and make climate-positive changes.

The deadline to apply to take part in the project is Friday 24 February. Following this, the applications will be considered against the criteria for the project and applicants will be notified whether they have been successful by Friday 10 March.

Local businesses, charities and social enterprises can find out more about the ‘Climate Essentials for Basingstoke and Deane’ pilot project, including the criteria and how to apply, at www.basingstoke.gov.uk/climate-essentials-support-project.

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