Fifteen of the fastest-growing tech companies in the UK have joined forces to create the ‘Tech Zero taskforce’ to tackle the climate crisis and make the UK the top global destination for green investment.
Founding members of the Tech Zero taskforce include the leaders of allplants, Bulb, Babylon, Citymapper, Faculty, GoCardless, Habito, Hopin, MoneySuperMarket Group, OLIO, Onfido, Revolut, Starling Bank, what3words and Wise, backed by industry body Tech Nation.
The taskforce will be led by Hayden Wood, co-founder and CEO of Bulb and will work in partnership with the government’s Council for Sustainable Business and the UK’s Net Zero Business Champion, Andrew Griffith MP, to accelerate the government’s plans for reaching net zero emissions.
CEOs of the founding taskforce members will hold a launch summit in the coming months, where they’ll agree bold commitments to reach net zero, boost green investment and help consumers make greener choices. After that, the aim is to get at least 1000 UK tech companies to sign up before COP26, the UN Climate Conference held in Glasgow later this year.
The taskforce will produce a Tech Zero toolkit to demystify climate jargon and make it simpler for companies to set a net zero plan. With its global footprint, the taskforce will share learnings with businesses and governments around the world.
Hayden Wood said, “We need bold action to avert the climate crisis, so we’ve brought together the UK’s most exciting and innovative tech companies to determine the best path to net zero as fast as possible. Tech Zero will go beyond targets – we want to boost access to finance and make the UK the number one destination for green investment in the world.”
Andrew Griffith MP, the UK’s Net Zero Business Champion said, “There’s never been a better time for companies to pledge to take action on climate. The UK is one of the global leaders in technology so it’s fantastic to see our country’s leading tech companies come together to commit to net zero in the run up to COP26.”
Anne-Marie Trevelyan, Energy Minister, said, “As we build back better from the pandemic, I am proud to see our world leading technology companies joining our efforts to end the UK’s contribution to climate change. This Tech Zero taskforce formed by cutting edge tech firms shows that going green is best for businesses, consumers and the health of our planet. I look forward to working closely with the taskforce to drive innovation and further build the UK’s enviable reputation as a global hub for green investment.”