MSMEs Capacity Building on Race to Net-Zero

Project Overview

Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of the global economy as they represent about 90% of businesses. They are critical for countries to deliver on their climate commitments. The MSME sector is also extremely important for India, accounting for 30% of GDP and 49.5% of its exports^[1]. But at the same time, it generates around 110 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent greenhouse gas emissions, according to a report by the Centre for Study of Science, Technology & Policy (CSTEP).^[2]

As India is committed to achieving net-zero, MSMEs can play a very important role in contributing to this goal. They are often constrained by a lack of appropriate tools and knowledge to start their journey towards more sustainable and resilient outcomes. To this end, the Centre for Responsible Business (CRB) has partnered with the SME Climate Hub to accelerate MSME action on net-zero.

MSMEs can begin their journey to reduce emissions with the SME Climate Hub’s free tools and resources, and can discover how taking action can boost profits, gain market share, and create more resilience amidst changing customer and regulatory demands.

Objectives

The objectives of the initiative are:

To create awareness and undertake capacity building for MSMEs about GHG
emissions and potential measures to reduce the same.
To engage with important stakeholders like Financial Institutions, Central & State Governments, Industrial Departments, Industry Associations, and Brands & Corporates to support MSMEs for taking action on GHG emissions reduction.
To create and disseminate knowledge products such as case studies, blogs, articles etc.
To encourage SMEs to initiate action on GHG emissions reduction via net-zero
commitments made through the SME Climate Hub

About the SME Climate Hub:

The SME Climate Hub is a non-profit global initiative that empowers small to medium sized companies (SMEs) to take climate action and build resilient businesses for the future. The SME Climate Hub is an initiative of the We Mean Business Coalition, the Exponential Roadmap Initiative and the United Nations Race to Zero campaign in collaboration with Normative and the Net Zero team at Oxford University.

The SME Climate Hub requires MSMEs to make a commitment to positive climate action. The commitment specifically calls for:

Halving greenhouse gas emissions before 2030
Achieving net zero emissions before 2050, and
Disclosing progress on a yearly basis.

Thousands of MSMEs globally have made the SME Climate Commitment. This is an opportunity for Indian MSMEs to contribute to the Race to Net Zero while building resilience in their business.

Click here to sign-up on the ‘SME Climate Hub’ and to begin your journey to reduce emissions with free tools and resources