Skip to content
  • MyNewMarkets.com
  • Claims Journal
  • Insurance Journal TV
  • Academy of Insurance
  • Carrier Management
Insurance Journal - Property Casualty Industry News

Featured Stories

  • Northern Neck Insurance to Acquire Frederick Mutual
  • Starbucks Workers Sue Over New Dress Code
  • Articles
  • Jobs
  • Markets

Current Magazine

current magazine
  • Read Online
  • Subscribe
  • Login
  • Front Page
    • National
    • International
    • Most Popular
    • Magazine
    • Forums
    • Blogs
    • Videos/Podcasts
    • Newsletters
  • News
    • Most Popular
    • National
    • International
    • East
    • Midwest
    • South Central
    • Southeast
    • West
  • Magazines
  • Research
  • Directories
  • Jobs
  • Features
    • Events
    • Forums
    • Market Directories
    • Quotes
    • Polls
    • Rankings & Awards
    • Insurance Giving Back
  • Subscribe

British Business Slows Climate Action, Sees Government Net Zero Agenda as Unrealistic

By Virginia Furness | July 22, 2025
Email This Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Article
  • 0 Comments

British business leaders are putting a brake on their plans to combat climate change and do not believe the government’s approach to net zero is compatible with growth, a survey of 1,000 executives showed on Tuesday.

Both large companies and small enterprises in health, construction, finance and manufacturing are turning away from climate-related action like target-setting, as falling confidence in Britain’s climate agenda and high costs turn the tide on enthusiasm for net zero, the survey by the British Standards Institution (BSI) showed.

The shift is happening despite the Labour government’s commitment to boosting green growth, and substantial pledges for investment in clean energy, green technology, and jobs.

Almost three-quarters (71%) of business leaders surveyed said the government cannot expand the economy while at the same time trying to reach net-zero. Half (50%) said that objective was unrealistic, according to the findings by the BSI, which sets best-practice quality requirements for anything from ball point pens to net-zero plans.

The turnaround in sentiment coincides with a notable drop-off in corporate target-setting, action and climate commitments among British businesses, with firms citing high costs, lack of finance for green tech and a move to prioritize business growth as barriers, the BSI said.

Scott Steedman, director general of standards at BSI, said the survey showed a “hiatus in corporate activity probably linked to changes in government policy in the UK after the election and international backpedaling.”

Only a third (36%) of British businesses claim this year they have set targets to achieve net zero, a significant drop from the 58% who stated they had done so last year, the survey shows. The portion of businesses this year taking climate action has also fallen markedly from 83% in 2024 to just under a half (49%) this year.

Overall, the proportion of businesses saying they felt they would likely achieve net zero by 2050 fell from 76% last year to 55% this year, with over half expecting to revise their strategies or targets.

However, the BSI said the vast majority of businesses (83%) still wanted to take action and would like support to do so.

(Reporting by Virginia Furness, editing by William Maclean)

Copyright 2025 Reuters. Click for restrictions.

Was this article valuable?

Thank you! Please tell us what we can do to improve this article.

Thank you! % of people found this article valuable. Please tell us what you liked about it.

Here are more articles you may enjoy.

Are Credit Scores Fueling Hidden Insurance Costs for Consumers?
Travelers: Confidence High in Guidance From Cyber Insurers; Work to Do on Take-Up
Florida Adjuster Convicted for Sending Carrier Checks to His Fake Firm
Parents Slam OpenAI, Character.AI Over Safety in Senate Hearing

Written By Virginia Furness

More From Author

The most important insurance news,
in your inbox every business day.

Get the insurance industry's trusted newsletter

Email This Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Categories: International & Reinsurance NewsTopics: Climate Change, environmental social and governance (ESG) criteria, net zero emissions, Research and Trends, UK climate change, UK market
  • Have a hot lead? Email us at newsdesk@insurancejournal.com

Add a CommentSee All Comments (0)Add a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

*

*

More News
First Radar Images From NASA Satellite Showcase Maine Coast, North Dakota Farmland
Gallagher Sues Two Former Brokers Who Started Own Firm
People Moves: Specialty MGA Taps BMS’s Conway as Senior MedMal Underwriter; HDI UK & Ireland Names Potter From AXA XL as Director of Liability
Flood-Focused Neptune’s IPO Joins Boom in Niche Insurer Debuts
More News Features

Read This Next

  • British Business Slows Climate Action, Sees Government Net Zero Agenda as Unrealistic
  • Businesses Underinvesting in Climate Adaptation Despite Intensifying Hazards: Marsh
  • Banks Improperly Requesting Additional Insured Status – Part 2
  • Banks Should NOT be Asking for Additional Insured Status
  • Agency of the Future

Insurance Jobs

  • Workers Compensation Claims Adjuster | NY Jurisdiction - Syracuse, NY or Open to remote
  • Senior Insurance Agent (3+ Yrs P&C Exp | W-2 | Warm Leads | In-Office Only) Senior Insurance Agent (3+ Yrs P&C Exp | W-2 | Warm Leads | In-Office Only) - Westminster, CO
  • Associate Claim Counsel - Federal Way, WA
  • Insurance Defense Counsel - Diamond Bar, CA
  • Underwriting Intern (Summer ’26): Bond and Specialty Insurance Underwriting - Saint Louis, MO
MyNewMarkets
  • 5 Evolving Trends Shaping Architects and Engineers Coverage
  • Rethinking Assault & Battery Liability in Commercial Real Estate
  • From Golf Greens to Sausage Fests: The Wild World of Prize Insurance
  • As Schools Prepare to Pay Athletes, What Role Will Insurance Play?
  • Turning Non-Standard Risks Into New Revenue: How Agents Can Capitalize
Claims Journal
  • Jaguar Land Rover Raises Funds to Boost Cyberattack Recovery
  • Boeing Settles Whistleblower Suit Over Suicide of Quality Inspector
  • Hurricane Humberto Will Allow Storm Imelda to Veer Away From US
  • OpenAI Launches Parental Controls for ChatGPT After Teen's Death
  • The LA Fires Destroyed 11,000 Homes. Less Than 10% Have Permits to Rebuild
Academy of Insurance education
  • October 2 Customer Support: The Continuum of Service, Satisfaction, and Success
  • October 9 Forward Into The Past: Certificates of Insurance, Additional Insureds, and Other Contractual Risk Transfer Issues
  • October 16 Auto Insurance: You Get What You Pay For
  • October 23 Gotchas That'll Getchya - Latest Policy Language That'll Get You Sued

Insurance News

  • News by Region
  • News by Topic
  • Yesterday

Site Search

Features

  • Insurance Markets Directory
  • Forums
  • A.M. Best Company Ratings
  • Industry Events
  • Agencies For Sale
  • Newswire
  • Insurance Jobs
  • Rankings & Awards

Connect with us

  • Email Newsletters
  • Magazine Subscriptions
  • For Your Website
  • RSS Feeds
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Do Not Sell My Info

Insurance Journal

  • Submit News
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Reprints
  • Link to Us
  • Contact Us

Wells Media Group Network

  • Insurance Journal
  • MyNewMarkets.com
  • Claims Journal
  • Insurance Journal TV
  • Academy of Insurance
  • Carrier Management
© 2025 by Wells Media Group, Inc. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Site Map