Announcement: COP30 Action Agenda calls for accelerating the implementation of the Global Stocktake. Read here.
Parts of this site were translated using AI. Accuracy may vary.
Announcement: COP30 Action Agenda calls for accelerating the implementation of the Global Stocktake. Read here.
Parts of this site were translated using AI. Accuracy may vary.
Friday, 27 June 2025 | By Climate Champions
From left to right: Vinicius Lages, Chris Taylor, Conrad Langridge, Naomi Kerbel, Nigar Arpadarai, Andy Melia, Malini Mehra , Lucette Demets, Heather Buchanan, Mark Jenkinson.
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of economies worldwide, driving jobs, innovation and community resilience. Yet they often remain underserved in their efforts to reduce emissions and prepare their operations and workforce for a rapidly changing climate.
Fortunately, momentum is growing to change this. Through the Climate-Proofing SMEs campaign, the Climate HLCs are pushing for accelerated action to unlock finance, strengthen capacity, and embed MSMEs into climate solutions at every level.
To mark this year’s MSME Day, we’re spotlighting the new collaborations, tools and initiatives designed to support these vital enterprises across regions and sectors.
The Climate High-Level Champions have launched the SME Finance Sprint, part of the Climate Proofing SMEs campaign, to curate and highlight scalable and high-impact financing solutions that are being implemented by public financiers, commercial lenders, corporates, and SMEs to accelerate climate action. The Sprint is the first chapter of the campaign’s mission to rally action and support ahead of COP30.
B4NZ (Bankers for Net Zero) this week launched a UK SME Voluntary Emissions Standard built for SMEs, aligned to real-world needs, and designed to reduce friction, improve data quality, and unlock access to green finance and net zero opportunities. The tool was launched at London Climate Action Week, along with the SME Sustainability Data Taskforce, co-chaired by Bankers for Net Zero and the Broadway Initiative.
The International Finance Corporation’s (IFC) Green Bond Technical Assistance Program (GB-TAP) has launched a new self-paced online training on how financial institutions can apply sustainable finance to their operations with MSMEs.
IFC’s SME Finance Forum, a network of 300+ members, and affiliates with coverage spanning 190+ countries, helps steer industry innovations, supports replication of best practices, recognizes global champions, drives thought leadership, convenes influential stakeholders, and encourages global knowledge transfer.
The Climate-Proofing SMEs campaign has released a Local Mobilizers Collaboration Statement setting out a commitment by local business networks and institutions to support SMEs navigate the climate transition. The idea is to help localize resources, facilitate peer learning, and connect SMEs to global campaigns such as Race to Zero and Race to Resilience.
Race to Zero partner the SME Climate Hub empowers over 9,000 SMEs from 144 countries and 28 sectors with access to resources, tools and guidance that help with climate-proofing. Notably, all the SMEs that have made the SME Climate Commitment through the SME Climate Hub have publicly committed to reach net zero by 2050 and halve their emissions by 2030. The Hub has seen a 24.88% growth in commitments in the last year, with three commitments per day so far this year; and 58.45% SMEs now committed to net zero by 2040.
Over 9,634 SMEs are part of the Race to Zero – 60% of its membership – and of the 579 member SMEs who reported in 2024, 480 reported having plans to reduce GHG emissions, 469 reported that they have taken actions to reduce GHG emissions, and 579 published climate reports.
The Green Transformation and Sustainability Network (GXS) empowers SMEs by providing capacity-building and climate literacy support, promoting free-of-cost tools from the SME Climate Hub, hosting learning webinars on nature and biodiversity, and engaging over 50 SMEs through global-level convenings on circularity.
Race to Zero Accelerator, Giki launched Giki Actions during London Climate Action Week to support SMEs in creating actionable, customized carbon reduction plans. Built on a library of 600+ proven decarbonization actions aligned with the GHG Protocol and Transition Plan Taskforce, the platform offers implementation guidance, business benefits, and impact data across 150+ sub-industries.
Regions4 is strengthening public-private partnerships by supporting regions creating enabling environments for SMEs by enhancing SME investment, and incentivizing businesses to act on climate, including by offering certifications. Examples include Lombardi, working on greening production lines, subsidies for SMEs for particular production chains that are positive for the environment; Quebec, which focuses on carbon credits; and Catalonia which delivers a climate programme that gives subsidies to SMEs who are actively taking action on climate and nature.
The Center for Sustainability Studies of the Business Administration School of Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGVces) is supporting the supply chain workstream through its project ARABICA-CANEHPORA: Promoting Sustainability, Equity and Transparency in the Brazilian Coffee Value Chain. The project aims to promote a sustainable, deforestation-free coffee value chain in Brazil, with a focus on women- and youth-led SMEs. In 2025, they trained over 215 smallholders through nine workshops and launched a multi-stakeholder working group to support EUDR implementation. The initiative is co-funded by the EU and implemented with IWCA Brasil and CSCP.
Heart of the City hosted two key events during London Climate Action Week, one on value chain sustainability, highlighting the importance of large and small business collaboration for inclusive growth and Net Zero. The second was the SME Climate Action Exchange, where over 50 SMEs engaged in workshops and shared climate action solutions with large businesses and policymakers, emphasizing SMEs' vital role in climate success.
Brazilian Micro and Small Business Support Service (Sebrae) took an active part at LCAW, positioning small businesses on the climate agenda. In the various workshops held throughout the week, the topic of small businesses gained even greater importance after Ambassador Correa do Lago, in his latest letter, introduced climate entrepreneurship and small businesses among the priorities. The president of Sebrae, Décio Lima, officially presented Sebrae's positioning on the climate agenda to Ambassador André Corrêa do Lago, establishing structural and permanent commitment to the climate and sustainability agenda.
Climate Ventures is accelerating climate innovation in Brazil by advancing SME access to finance, capacity building, and value chain engagement. Through initiatives like the Nature Investment Lab and Finance Coalition, they aim to mobilize US$10 billion by 2030; while the Amazônia em Casa, Floresta em Pé programme has already generated R$3.6 million in sales and conserved 2 million hectares. Their Onda Verde platform connects 1,300+ sustainable businesses with large companies and supports corporate decarbonization in partnership with the UN Global Compact Brazil.
The National Business Initiative (NBI), in partnership with Ninety One and Green Cape, is driving the Climate Proofing SMEs campaign through the Ninety One Accelerator in Support of the Earthshot Prize. The 9-month programme will support up to 30 South African Small, Medium, and Micro Enterprises (SMME) with capacity building, funding, and market access, aiming to make them investment-ready and integrated into large business supply chains. With ZAR 45 million (~US$2.5 million) in support over six years, the Accelerator backs innovative, commercially viable climate solutions like e-waste recycling, green construction, refill stations, mycoprotein, and clean energy data platforms.
Ecodes has supported five SMEs in their region with carbon footprint calculations and is currently conducting training sessions to help them use a free emissions-tracking tool. They are also working with partners like Pacto Pymes, YBS Spain, FINRESP, and SME Climate Hub to scale activities aimed at SMEs. While further actions and alliances are still being defined, Ecodes remains actively engaged and will share more updates as plans progress.
