Nearly half of organisations admit to slow sustainability decision-making caused by knowledge gaps

Levels of confidence within UK organisations on progress in reaching Net Zero could be undermined by gaps in fundamental knowledge and processes, according to new research from Equity Energies, part of DCC plc.

The recent study, Carbon Admissions: We don’t know what we don’t know, explores attitudes and sentiment to advancing progress on Net Zero across multi-sector organisations spanning hospitality, manufacturing, local authority and private healthcare.

While 94 per cent of organisations say that Net Zero is a priority within their organisation, the overwhelming majority of respondents (98 per cent) lack knowledge in fundamental and foundational processes required to advance Net Zero. Such shortcomings could create ambiguity including around starting positions, target setting and ongoing monitoring and measurement of decarbonisation initiatives.

The areas of greatest concern relating to lack of knowledge are;

• Monitoring and measurement (19.2 per cent)
• Target setting (19 per cent)
• Baselining and benchmarking (16.8 per cent)
• Data and insights (15.6 per cent)
• Net Zero pathway design and creation (15.6 per cent)
• Execution of efficiency measures / technologies (12.2 per cent)

This is being compounded by almost half (45 per cent) of businesses citing speed and efficiency of decision-making around sustainability and Net Zero as ‘slow’ within their organisations, meaning opportunities to derive commercial value while advancing progress is being overlooked by UK organisations.

Ryan O’Neill, Chief Strategy Officer, Equity Energies, said:

“All progress is progress when it comes to Net Zero, and the passion, commitment and confidence within UK organisations to get there is to be commended and celebrated. But to know where we’re going, we must know where we’re starting from – both organisationally and in our own personal knowledge and understanding.

“We don’t know what we don’t know, and that has been demonstrated through this research. But it’s okay not to have all the answers when it comes to Net Zero. Asking questions is the first step to begin change and unlock progress. 

“That’s why we’ve launched our Carbon Admissions campaign, to encourage more honesty and transparency on what we don’t know, and to inspire more open conversations within UK organisations on the questions they have relating to how to reach Net Zero. By doing so, we can widen access to the shared experiences, information, intelligence and expertise that can collectively help each other on the next step to a better tomorrow.”