Climate High-Level Champions announce call to scale SME climate action ahead of COP30

As preparations continue for COP30 in Belém, the Climate-Proofing SMEs campaign the Climate High-Level Champions has launched a new Call to Action to accelerate support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) over the coming months focusing on the practical steps needed to help them build resilience and reduce emissions at speed and scale.

SMEs are the backbone of the economy, making up 90% of businesses globally, employing 70% of the world’s workforce and contributing over 50% of global GDP. They are deeply embedded in supply chains, communities and everyday economies yet still face considerable barriers to participating in climate action. The new Call to Action (CTA) focuses on practical ways to change that.

Released on 24 June, it sets out three immediate priorities. The first is support through supply chains. Large businesses are encouraged to work directly with the small businesses they depend on, offer technical assistance, tailored finance, and tools that help suppliers reduce emissions and manage physical risk. By COP30, the campaign aims to see at least 150 businesses actively engaging their supply chains through long-term programmes that support delivery on net zero and resilience targets.

The second priority is finance. Many small businesses, particularly those in emerging and developing markets, continue to face high borrowing costs, limited cash reserves, and restricted access to capital for investment in low-carbon technologies or climate adaptation measures. The campaign is calling on financial institutions, from development banks to commercial lenders, to close this gap by increasing the availability of targeted green finance, offering technical support, and removing barriers that prevent small businesses from accessing what is already on offer.

The third is capacity building. Through partnerships with existing platforms and networks, the campaign aims to ensure that at least 30,000 SMEs are supported with practical, accessible resources, from carbon footprinting tools and sustainability reporting guidance, to region-specific advice and training that reflects real operating conditions.

Building on the strengths and expertise of its partners’ initiatives, the CTA provides a common framework to help align efforts, identify what works, and scale solutions that can be replicated. Partners are invited to share examples, submit case studies, and highlight approaches that have proven effective in their own contexts. These will be collated and shared across the SME network, including through a set of ‘Top 10’ enabling actions to be published ahead of COP30.

With momentum building around the COP30 Presidency’s call for a global mutirão – a coordinated effort to accelerate implementation – this campaign forms part of a broader push to bring delivery closer to the ground. Small businesses have a central role to play in that effort, but they cannot act without the right tools, finance and support.

Throughout 2025, the campaign will remain open to new collaborators and contributions, and will continue to provide a platform for those working to ensure the real economy is not only represented in global climate discussions, but fully equipped to help deliver the outcomes they demand.

For further information, to share your organisation’s contribution, or to access campaign materials, visit the Climate-Proofing SMEs page or contact elifkarakulak@climatechampions.team