With COP27 currently underway in Egypt, world leaders, ministers, and negotiators are gathering to agree how we can address climate change on a global scale. Closer to home here in London Bridge, we are taking control of our own sustainability journey through our London Bridge Net Zero Routemap.

Here’s what’s been happening since the routemap’s launch this summer, and how can you can get involved as a member of our business community.

Championing sustainability – COP27 Green Network event

On 29th November at 4.30pm, inspired by COP27, join us to hear from experts on what has actually happened there, and how those commitments, along with the Chancellor’s Autumn Statement, will impact on the sustainability journey of our business community.

We’ll also share how individual businesses and staff can benefit from championing sustainability collaboratively. For this we are seeking good business examples and will create training opportunities across a variety of sustainability topics.

This is part of our Green Network, always interesting, social and useful.

Book here - Decarbonising London Bridge: What next for business after COP27 and the Autumn Statement?

View the slides from this meeting here.

London Bridge businesses taking action

We know that businesses are at very different stages of their sustainability journey, but that all businesses have to move in this direction. At Team London Bridge, we are now keeping track of how far our businesses are on this journey. This will showcase that London Bridge is a business district taking sustainability seriously, and provide an incentive for all to take part.

As of November 2022:

46 businesses have made a Net zero / carbon neutrality pledge (and four have already achieved it! – see chart below)

3 businesses have made a partial commitment and 1 business a vague commitment
150 businesses have made no commitment
152 businesses – no data as of yet

This data is taken from publicly available information on websites, and we are still researching it. Do help us to keep this chart up to date by providing your business’ information (you can email me). It’ll be interesting to see how this progresses every year.

Reduce your emissions and bills – Apply to the Business Climate Challenge

London Bridge businesses are signing up to the London Mayor’s Business Climate Challenge to reduce their energy bills by 10%.

TLB is partnering with the Mayor on this opportunity to provide a bespoke office energy audit, which is free to businesses and worth £6,000. It is likely to save those businesses £8,000 per year through energy efficiencies alone.

This offer is only available on a first come first served basis – so do get in touch if you are interested (certainly before Christmas).

Book here - Come and find out more in a drop-in breakfast session on 17th November at London Bridge Hive – 8-9am. Or book a 10 min online slot with the GLA Business Climate Challenge advisor (17th 10am – 12pm – please email me your preference).

Bikes for Business – spreading across London

Last but not least, our work promoting cargo bike deliveries in London Bridge is now helping to shape how Transport for London approaches growth of the sector up to 2030, a framework that is expected to come out at the end of the year.

Services on cargo bikes used by our businesses have been rated at 4.7 out of 5. At TLB, we’ve just booked a window cleaner and an electrician on cargo bike, keeping our impact on the planet to a minimum. Work out which of your deliveries can be switched to low-emission bike by contacting me or bikesforbusiness@mpsmartertravel.co.uk.

Keep moving to zero

Net Zero is an agenda we simply have to deliver on individually, organisationally and globally. It is easy to get side-tracked by the recession and the cost of doing business, but we definitely think that we can tackle these challenges simultaneously, and that sustainable business practice is good for business.

We look forward to carrying on our work with you, whatever your interest in London Bridge, and we will be ably supported this year by Useful Projects, who helped write our Routemap. Please don’t hesitate to send your thoughts, and particularly if you are keen to know more about being a sustainability champion.

Jack Skillen - Placeshaping Director at Team London bridge

Contact: jack@teamlondonbridge.co.uk

COP27: London Bridge's Path to Net Zero