Conister engages with IOM Chamber of Commerce to create a task force to help businesses achieve net zero emissions targets

Conister engages with IOM Chamber of Commerce to create a task force to help businesses achieve net zero emissions targets

The IOM Business Sustainability Group is a task force that has been set up as a subsidiary of the Chamber of Commerce Climate Change Programme (COCCCP) to assist local businesses in achieving net-zero emissions.

The Chamber’s Climate Change Group was set up in 2019 to allow businesses the opportunity to exchange ideas on environmental initiatives and best practices.  The idea of the sub-group is to share best practices and knowledge with local businesses and to promote action towards achieving net-zero emissions. 

Chair of the COCCCP Chris Gledhill commented: the role of the COCCCP is to oversee the strategic side and work in parallel with the Government’s climate change strategy along with support and feedback to Government solutions to assist the business community in delivering on climate change.  The new sub-group will focus on the practical aspects on how the business community can drive ideas and initiatives forward no matter what size or sector.  The forum plans to work with existing members of the COCCCP and welcomes the wider Chamber members by encouraging knowledge sharing, and promoting collaborative solutions for lowering emissions and improving environmental impact

The initiative originated from Conister Bank’s initial engagement with the Energy & Sustainability Centre Isle of Man, who both recognised that local businesses on the Isle of Man have a shared goal to tackle the transition to net-zero and together can achieve better results through a collaboration by sharing and developing new ideas to advance the transition to a green economy.

 The sub-group is open to any Chamber member. 

 IOM Business Sustainability Group Aims & Objectives

• Act as a collective voice for the local economy, promoting a responsible approach to the Climate Change Bill
• Serve as a rallying point for local businesses looking to improve sustainability, publicised through Chamber’s Climate Change Programme
• Collate concerns and questions; work on providing clear and straightforward answers
• Provide knowledge sharing opportunities related to sustainability
• Encourage and promote collaborative solutions for lowering emissions and improving environmental impact
• Locally develop new ideas to advance the transition to a green economy
• Ensure positive engagement with the  Government, including invitations to take part in meetings to promote alignment of private and public sector
• Make constructive recommendations to decision-makers on strategy, policies and legislation
• Develop an open source of practical expertise, a database of information and a list of relevant contacts
• Organise presentations and discussions from global topic experts
• Offer the opportunity to attend local workshops and training courses
• Foster external partnerships to promote sustainability, including the wider communities i.e.  the agricultural and fisheries sectors