Nearly 40% of environmental experts say policy does not support net zero targets

New research shows that almost four in ten (37%) environmental professionals say government policy is not supporting them to achieve net zero targets.

The National Environmental Services survey data comes after another survey shows public support for a series of net zero policies has fallen over the past two years.

The survey also revealed that eight in ten (80%) professionals express serious concerns about the fairness of carbon credit offsetting schemes. More than nine in ten (94%) believe greenwashing is common in the UK, and 32% said climate change and global warming are the biggest issues in the environmental and sustainability sectors.

Rob Mowat, managing director of ESS Expo, said: “It is worrying that so many sustainability experts believe that greenhouse gas offsetting programs actually harm the environment.

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“While some companies participate in highly certified programs, many in the industry are concerned that these programs are simply another form of eco-shaming and may, in some cases, do more harm to the environment than good.”

The survey used data from over 1,498 professionals from across the environmental protection industry between April and May this year.

Meanwhile, in April, 4,201 people aged 16 and over took part in an Ipsos survey on their attitudes towards net zero, carried out on behalf of the Center for Climate Change and Social Transformations, an organization of the universities of Bath, Cardiff, East Anglia, Manchester and York, and Climate Action charity.

His findings showed that there was a decline in support for frequent flyer charges and a decline in support for changing prices to reflect the environmental friendliness of products.

In May this year, the “largest ever” national census of net zero businesses was launched, examining the environmental performance of UK businesses.