BICS weighted Scotland estimates: data to wave 59

Climate Change

In Wave 59 the BICS asked businesses whether they have taken any actions to reduce the business’s carbon emissions – the specific question asked is shown below. Businesses were asked about their actions at the time of completion of the survey questionnaire (13 June to 26 June 2022 in Wave 59).

Carbon Emissions Question: Which of the following actions, if any, have you taken to reduce your business's carbon emissions?

• adjusting heating and cooling systems
• electrifying your vehicle fleet
• installing a smart meter
• installing charging points
• installing your own renewable electricity or heating
• insulating your buildings
• introducing a cycle to work scheme
• switching to LED bulbs
• going paperless
• other (added in Wave 59)
• not sure
• no actions have been taken to reduce emissions

Figure 7: Switching to LED bulbs (43.4%) and adjusting heating and cooling systems (38.0%) were the actions most frequently reported by businesses in the period 13 June to 26 June 2022 (Wave 59). 13.6% of businesses reported that they had taken no actions to reduce their carbon emissions.

Source: Office for National Statistics – BICS – Weighted Scotland Estimates – Wave 59

In Wave 59, businesses were asked what actions, if any, they have taken to protect the environment – the specific question asked is shown below. 

Protect Environment Question: Which of the following actions, if any, has your business taken to protect the environment?

• has a climate change strategy
• has a net zero or greenhouse gas emissions target
• has a net zero or greenhouse gas emissions target which includes supply chain
• has a nature or biodiversity strategy
• has a nature or biodiversity target
• monitors climate-related risks
• publishes an annual sustainability report
• other (added in Wave 59)
• not sure
• none of the above

Having a climate change strategy (16.6%) and setting a net zero or greenhouse gas emissions target (7.2%) were the actions most frequently reported by businesses.  An estimated 43.4% of businesses reported that they had taken none of the actions listed.