UK tech leaders team up to fight climate crisis and help 100 million make greener choices

Leading UK tech companies are joining forces to accelerate progress to net zero, support tech companies in making a climate action plan and use tech to help the 100 million customers they serve live more sustainably.

The Tech Zero taskforce officially launches in London today and is targeting 1,000 members by COP26 this November.

The Tech Zero taskforce is led by Bulb co-founder and CEO Hayden Wood, industry body Tech Nation, and includes fast-growing British tech firms allplants, Babylon, Citymapper, Faculty, GoCardless, Habito, Hopin, Moneysupermarket Group, OLIO, Onfido, Revolut, Starling Bank, what3words and Wise.

These companies have transformed industries including banking, energy and healthcare, and are now coming together to boost the UK’s fight against the climate crisis.

Companies who join Tech Zero commit to measure all of their emissions and set an ambitious net zero target by the end of 2021. They’ll also commit to:

• Annually measure and publish all scope 1, 2, and 3 carbon emissions in line with the taskforce for climate-related financial disclosures guidelines.

• Publish a climate action plan by the end of 2021 which includes short and medium interim targets.

• Appoint a member of the executive team to be responsible and accountable for their net zero target, report progress to their board and on their website every year.

• Communicate climate commitments in other meaningful ways, including to customers.

Monzo, OakNorth and Vodafone also join Tech Zero today. Vodafone will help companies decarbonise faster by sharing its experience in setting a robust net-zero strategy. It also helps its customers reduce their environmental footprint through its digital technologies and services, particularly Internet of Things.

Industry bodies London & Partners and Level39, the tech community have joined Tech Zero alongside Tech Nation to spread the word amongst the 1,000+ companies they count as members. Tech Zero has potential to be the world’s biggest group of tech companies committed to climate action.

The taskforce will use technology to help its 100 million global customers live more sustainably. It’s building a directory of products and technology consumers can use to make greener choices, from avoiding food waste to reducing their carbon footprint.

The taskforce has produced the Tech Zero toolkit to demystify climate jargon and make it easier for tech companies of all sizes to set a net zero plan. Companies who join Tech Zero will have access to exclusive events with climate experts; leading companies who are well on the way to net zero, as well as the most exciting green tech startups. They’ll be part of a network of companies committed to accelerating progress to net zero.

Tech Zero is working in partnership with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), as well as the government’s Council for Sustainable Business and the UK’s Net Zero Business Champion, Andrew Griffith MP.  It’s working with the government to boost green investment and help UK tech companies grow by creating green tech jobs in all four corners of the UK, giving businesses the resources they need to invest in greener choices and encouraging consumers to switch to green technologies.

Hayden Wood, Co-founder and CEO of Bulb and leader of the taskforce: “Everyone’s been grappling with the challenge of net zero and the Tech Zero taskforce means we can work together to make progress faster. As some of the fastest-growing companies in the UK, we want to help at least 1,000 companies set rigorous climate action plans, and help our 100 million customers make greener choices.”

Digital Secretary Oliver Dowden said: “The digital drive towards net zero is not only good for the planet, it also makes good business sense. I urge firms to play their part and sign up to the Tech Zero taskforce and its ambitious targets as we look forward to COP26.

“As a government we are unashamedly pro-tech and the industry has our full support as it brings its innovation, entrepreneurship and creativity to tackle one of the greatest challenges of our time.”

Gerard Grech, Chief Executive of Tech Nation: “Decarbonising our economies to net zero will undoubtedly involve mindset change, habit change and technologies, some not yet invented, to scale. At Tech Nation, we’ve seen firsthand the amazing things that can happen when businesses work together; working towards actionable targets to improve our society, our economy and now the future of our planet. I am therefore delighted for Tech Nation to be part of the founding Tech Zero task force focused on getting more than 1000 UK tech companies on a mission to reduce our carbon emissions, which hopefully will inspire others to do the same, igniting more change.”