BUSINESS FOCUS: Community voice must be heard in drive towards Net Zero
As businesses digest the recent Judicial Review judgement concerning the Academy Street proposals, BID is preparing to host the latest ‘Your Voice, Our Future’ event on the subject, including to consider next steps, on August 21, from 7.20-9am at the Spectrum Centre, Inverness.
The proposals in context are part of the Scottish Government’s broader initiative to reduce private car usage by 20 per cent by 2030 (then much further) aligned with the digitalisation of transport in general. What these changes will mean for how we travel in the future, for businesses and employment or what “more local living” might entail in practice remains uncertain.
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Digital risks were highlighted last month when an IT outage caused by a CrowdStrike software update led to an estimated £1 billion in global economic losses. Over 5000 flights were cancelled, affecting approximately 8.5 million users. The fallout impacted sectors ranging from broadcasters to medical providers, severely affecting businesses of all sizes, serving as a reminder of the vulnerabilities that come with increasing reliance on digital systems and potentially in future, also more unreliable energy sources.
A recent Home Office report revealed that 50 per cent of businesses experienced a cyber-attack or breach in the past year, with phishing, impersonation, viruses, and malware being the most common issues costing an average of £1205 per incident.
As the drive toward Net Zero continues, most green solutions promote (and the link need not be inevitable) greater electrification and digitalisation across most other sectors and services. Inverness’s ambition to become a “smart city” exemplifies this trend, reflecting broader movements driven by the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR). Technologies such as AI, automation, the Internet of Things, and blockchain all depend on extensive data collection and ever-expanding data centres.
How “green” and “smart” this proves to be time will tell, irrespective of the need for reliable, secure, and resilient transport, energy and digital infrastructure remains crucial. Equally important is ensuring that our communities have a voice, are actively involved and included in any transformation process and that changes are not just railroaded through or imposed.
By Craig Duncan, Inverness BID co-chair, owner of Craigton Foods and McDonald’s franchisee.
