Viewpoint: Editor of SustMeme, Jim McClelland was interviewed for the Mitie Net Zero Navigator and invited to share his predictions, alongside a team of in-house experts, for what will drive the decarbonisation agenda this year.
Leading UK facilities management and professional services company Mitie has launched its Net Zero Navigator 2024. This influential report presents nine key decarbonisation predictions for the year ahead whilst offering advice and support for organisations taking their next steps on the transition to net zero.
Confidence around carbon reporting and energy usage
One standout research finding reveals that when it comes to carbon reporting, a third of companies (33%) are still not confident about predicting their energy usage, despite the technology available.
Whilst many organisations are already automating their annual mandatory carbon reporting, they are still missing out on more extensive and meaningful insights which can help develop sustainability strategies.
However, this picture is likely to change over the next twelve months.
Advances in technology offer the opportunity for organisations to measure their carbon emissions more regularly throughout the year and track tangible progress so increased measurement will likely become the norm in 2024. Automation will be central to making this a faster and more efficient process.
Caution around wasteful use of Al and IoT
The Net Zero Navigator also outlines the fast-growing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and Internet of Things (IoT) technology to enhance energy efficiency, with almost three-fifths (57%) of organisations having already implemented AI or IoT to gain insights into their energy usage and carbon emissions.
Not surprisingly this is an ongoing trend. From forecasting energy supply and demand to increasing the reliability of grid connections, AI’s huge impact on decarbonisation is set to continue in the year ahead.
However, the decarbonisation experts are warning that organisations must exercise caution as any technology which is energy- and resource-intensive will require a robust strategy to mitigate its associated costs and energy use. Otherwise, it could quickly become a major contributor of carbon emissions.
EV drive set to motor on with no delay
Another key prediction from the Net Zero Navigator is that despite the UK government’s new five-year extension to the electric vehicle (EV) transition deadline, many organisations will push on with electrifying their fleet, resisting the opportunity to delay their EV plans despite the extra time afforded to them.
However, lingering concerns regarding charging infrastructure and costs will remain, with over a third of organisations (35%) citing charging costs as the biggest barrier to adopting a fully electric fleet.
The report also predicts many organisations will rethink and re-evaluate EV transition plans to ensure they take the necessary steps on such as infrastructure analysis to drive learnings and eradicate inefficiencies.
Other key predictions and findings from the Net Zero Navigator 2024 include;
- Energy strategy: Effectively reducing carbon emissions will help to positively impact the bottom line, with two-thirds of organisations (65%) agreeing their net zero strategy has improved investor engagement;
- Water: Reducing water consumption will give organisations an easy win in cutting Scope 3 emissions;
- Waste: Circular procurement will be a secret weapon when it comes to reducing waste;
- Nature: Focus on green infrastructure and biodiversity will be stronger than ever as almost all sustainability decision-makers (96%) identify their organisation’s net zero strategy as nature-positive;
- Data: Smarter data collection and benchmarking will not only accelerate the path to net zero, but will dictate the future of the energy market.
The report offers valuable food for thought and calls to action to point us towards a more sustainable and strategic 2024, concludes Pradyumna Pandit, Managing Director, Energy and Decarbonisation, Mitie:
“The start of a new year brings the opportunity to reflect on the progress made towards net zero goals and set new resolutions to accelerate their achievement. From the use of technology in carbon reporting to an increased focus on biodiversity, the predictions and findings from this year’s Net Zero Navigator will provide organisations with ideas, tools, and guidance to make an impact on their emissions in 2024.”
To access all the key predictions and read the research findings in full, visit the Mitie Net Zero Navigator.
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