Antaris helps SMEs play their part in tackling the climate crisis.
The climate emergency requires action from all of us. Everyone has a role to play to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) make up most of the global economy, about 90% of businesses. According to the World Bank, they account for 50% of worldwide employment.
The CDP (formerly the Carbon Disclosure Project) notes that supply chain emissions are 11.4 times higher than operational emissions. Due to this fact, many large companies are moving climate action down the supply chain to their suppliers. They are expecting their suppliers – often SMEs – to assess, report, and reduce their own emissions. This is the case across all sectors from farms to pharma.
The latest figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO), show SMEs accounted for 99.7% of the total enterprise population for 2019. Internationally SMEs account for between 50% and 70% of value-added in OECD economies and they contribute to on average, 33% of GDP in emerging economies.
We can be successful in this climate emergency. To achieve this, it is crucial that SMEs are equipped with the tools and resources needed to disclose their environmental performance and set commitments aligned with a 1.5°C future.
74% of Irish SMEs want to take action that will positively affect their company’s environmental impact, according to an Electric Ireland Business survey, in Sept 2021. The reality is that many Irish SMEs struggle to know how to drive impactful change.
The good news is that the Irish Government is investing in sustainability among SMEs, with the aim of meeting our 2030 climate action goals. The State is urging SMEs to select from a range of initiatives including Climate Action Vouchers, the GreenStart and GreenPlus programmes available through Enterprise Ireland, IDA, and Údarás na Gaeltachta. Local Enterprise Offices are offering the Green for Micro programme to their clients, while the SEAI is offering an Energy Audit Voucher.
On the 10th of Dec 2021, the government launched a new online toolkit to help Irish SMEs take steps to reduce their climate impact and make sustainable choices. The Climate Toolkit 4 Business allows companies to enter information such as energy and water bills to measure their carbon footprint and create a personalised action plan to reduce this impact.
These plans include practical instructions along with information on potential help that is available from the Government, Enterprise Ireland, Local Enterprise Offices and groups like the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI).
According to the Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Leo Varadkar, the website is a practical starting point for companies to take steps in reducing their fossil fuel reliance and making more sustainable choices
It can be confusing to know where your sustainability journey begins.
Contact us at Antaris for advice on how to make a small start to contribute to making a big impact.
Check out the range of sustainability management services Antaris provide, to help you on this journey.
