We are delighted to announce that we have signed up to the Net Zero Accountancy Initiative and begun the journey to become a Net Zero accountancy practice.

Inglis Chartered Accountants, based in York which employs eight staff, will work with climate action platform Net Zero Now to calculate its Greenhouse Gas emissions as the first step on this journey. It will then create a reduction plan to cut emissions and compensate for any unavoidable emissions before setting a target date to become Net Zero.

The global scientific community agrees that reaching Net Zero is the best chance we have of keeping global warming to manageable levels and the UK government has set a target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050.

Net Zero Now estimates that accountancy practices in the UK are responsible for nearly half a million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions every year, equivalent to the emissions of over 100,000 cars being driven for a year. While big firms can afford specialist sustainability advice, 80% of all accountants in practice work for a small or medium-sized firm and the process of going Net Zero is seen by most SMEs as being expensive, time-consuming and complex.

The Net Zero Accountancy Initiative, developed in partnership with Sage, ICAEW, ACCA, AAT and the Good Business Charter, helps businesses achieve Net Zero simply and cost effectively by using sector-specific protocols that set the industry standard. The Net Zero Accountancy protocols provide guidelines for any business in the sector to get to Net Zero. They have been peer reviewed by organisations representing the sector and sustainability and climate experts and are freely available at www.netzeronow.org.

Donald Inglis, Director, Inglis Chartered Accountants says:

“We’re delighted to begin our journey to becoming a Net Zero business. We know our staff, customers and the local community want to see us take action on climate change and understanding the sources of our emissions is the first step. We’re determined to reduce our emissions and build a more sustainable future for our business, the local community and ultimately our planet.”

Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director of Net Zero Now says:

“It’s an absolute pleasure to have Inglis Chartered Accountants join us on the journey to becoming a Net Zero business. Every accountancy practice across the UK now has the tools to take action on the climate crisis. The accountancy profession has an enormous role to play in the transition of our economy to net zero, both through reducing its own emissions and in its influence on other businesses. I encourage more accountancy practices to get on board.”