This is what you have been writing to us about this week.

We’ve heard a lot of talk over the last 18 months about learning the lessons of lockdown, taking stock of what’s important in life and recognising what we need to do to build back better – individually, as a business community, and as a society.

Now is the time to put it into practice and ensure those words were not just empty talk.

While we’re far from out of sight as far as the virus goes, any lessons learnt can be repurposed and applied to new challenges, new crises.

Unfortunately, we don’t need to wait for the next crisis to emerge, it’s already here: the climate crisis.

Fortunately, we know what we need to do: join the Race to Zero and reduce carbon emissions in line with the Paris Agreement on climate change.

The pandemic has taught us that when disaster strikes, we can all get caught in the wash.

It may be a bit late now to talk about being proactive instead of reactive when it comes to tackling the climate crisis, but we can certainly talk about being dynamic instead of passive.

As businesses showed in their pandemic response, they can step up to an emergency, innovate, and adapt their way of working in order to avert disaster – or at least mitigate it.

During lockdown, many people discovered a love for nature and the outdoors by virtue of having access to it restricted.

Nature needs our continuing attention and a concerted effort from us all to prevent a not-too-far-off (if we do nothing) disaster.

In 2015, the landmark Paris Agreement was signed by 196 countries that agreed to try and limit the increase in the global average temperature to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels in order to significantly reduce the risks and impacts of climate change.

At Buckinghamshire Business First, we have pledged to halve our greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050.

Our SME Climate Commitment is recognised by the United Nations Race to Zero campaign; a global movement for a healthy, resilient, zero carbon recovery that creates jobs and unlocks sustainable growth.

Practical actions businesses can take to reduce emissions dovetail with reducing overheads and increasing growth; fewer staff commutes and lower travel expenses; lower rent on smaller premises with more staff working at home; installing energy-efficient equipment and lowering utility bills; encouraging others to reduce their impact and showing customers you care about the same things they do.

There are also government incentives to signing up to Race to Zero.

Linked to all of this is the role that digital connectivity plays in economic growth, healthcare and education, as well as enabling the practical day-to-day solutions that make carbon reduction very achievable.

Why not discuss these issues with your team during an outdoor ‘walk and talk’ meeting, letting the fresh air invigorate your mind.

Once you’re back from your walk full of ideas, get in touch with us at Buckinghamshire Business First to discuss ways to turn them into reality.

Contact our Low Carbon Workspaces team at info@lowcarbonworkspaces.co.uk or 01494 927131.

Philippa Batting, Buckinghamshire Business First

To send your own letter, email bfpletters@london.newsquest.co.uk.

Please note, any letters sent to the Bucks Free Press office are only being picked up periodically as all staff are still working from home.