The SME Climate Hub & Oxford University join forces to provide SMEs with climate action tools and resources

The newly launched SME Climate Hub — an initiative of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, the We Mean Business coalition and the United Nations Race to Zero campaign — will mobilise and support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to take climate action and thereby build business resilience and gain a competitive advantage.

The SME Climate Hub partners have now joined forces with Oxford University’s Net Zero Climate Research and Engagement Team to provide small and medium-sized businesses with a database of practical tools and resources to curb emissions and build business resilience. The database will provide tools and resources which can guide SMEs on how to measure and manage emissions; increase resource efficiency; track and communicate progress; and access tailored resources and services. 

Over 400 tools and resources have been mapped by the partners, which are now being reviewed against key usability and climate science criteria: such as the Oxford University/United Nations Race to Zero “Starting Line Criteria”. These tools and resources will be reviewed by business and climate subject experts with the purpose to establish a streamlined set of tools and resources that are aligned with science, and easy to use by small and medium-sized businesses and provide SMEs with concrete support that will help them to measure and reduce emissions, track progress, increase resource efficiency and lower overheads, access services and gain a competitive advantage. 

The first step of the tools and resources database will be launched later this year to be included on both the SME Climate Hub and on the Oxford Net Zero platform.  

Ahead of the fifth anniversary of the Paris Agreement on 12 December 2020, small and medium-sized business leaders are being encouraged to make the SME Climate Commitment – which is globally recognised by the United Nations Race to Zero and by a number of corporates, including BT Group, Ericsson, Ikea, Telia and Unilever, who form part of the 1.5°C Supply Chain Leaders group. The aim is to mobilise and support SMEs from all over the globe to make the SME Climate Commitment and start taking climate action by the next round of international climate negotiations at COP26 in Glasgow in November 2021.

Speaking on the partnership and the importance of providing tools and resources to support SMEs to take climate action, the partners said:

“Addressing climate change has never been so business critical, especially for small and medium-sized businesses that make up 90% of global business and are especially at risk of the effects of climate change. We are delighted to be working with Oxford University’s Net Zero team to help support SMEs with concrete tools and resources that will help them build business resilience, enhance access to capital and affordable insurance, and gain a competitive advantage. We encourage SMEs everywhere to make the SME Climate Commitment with the knowledge that they will be supported in how to take climate action,” said Majda Dabaghi, Director of Inclusive and Green Growth, International Chamber of Commerce (ICC).

“Solutions only matter to the planet if they are implemented so the team at Oxford Net Zero is so thrilled to be working alongside the SME Climate Hub to build a toolkit that can be used by small and medium-sized businesses around the world. As an independent academic institution our mission is to inform leaders with the best available science-based resources for taking climate action and this project is just one of many we hope to offer the public as part of this mission”, said Kaya Axelsson from Oxford Net Zero.

 “SMEs will be critical in our common mission to cut emissions by half by 2030 and not at least to develop and scale the new, green solutions in renewable energy, transport, circular solutions, required to shift-out the old fossil-based solutions”. SMEs need practical tools and resources to simplify climate action and we are excited to work with Oxford to establish an open database with this purpose”, said Johan Falk, Head of Exponential Roadmap Initiative.

“To mitigate against the worst impacts of climate change, it is critical that we halve emissions by 2030. That means that SMEs need to make a commitment to tackle climate change and take action on that commitment as quickly as possible. The practical tools and resources aggregated by the SME Climate Hub will provide SMEs with the fastest and smartest routes to act on climate. They will position them to reduce emissions at pace, and also make them attractive suppliers to the hundreds of multinationals that also have bold climate action plans”, said María Mendiluce, CEO, the We Mean Business coalition.

We are looking for more tools and resources: 

If you have a tool or resource that you would like to contribute to the database for review, please include it here: 

About the SME Climate Hub: 

The SME Climate Hub is an initiative founded by the International Chamber of Commerce, the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, the We Mean Business coalition and the UNFCCC Race to Zero campaign, with the aim of supporting small and medium-sized businesses to build business resilience. The SME Climate Hub provides a one-stop-shop for SMEs to commit to climate action and access tools, incentives and other resources designed to make it easier than ever for small and medium-sized businesses to cut carbon emissions, bring innovative green solutions to market and build business resilience. For more information, visit: www.smeclimatehub.org

For more information or interviews, please contact: 

Anna Almberg, press contact, SME Climate Hub, Email: [email protected], Tel: +46 (0)7 09 81 67 82 

Kaya Axelsson, Oxford University, [email protected]