Climate Champions

We’re in a Race.

A race against time and against ourselves. Against the dangerous idea that we can’t do this, that there is no way.

Unlike most races, it won’t have one winner. In this race we all win, or we all lose. Winning it requires a radical, unprecedented level of collaboration, from all corners of our world. From our cities, businesses, regions and investors. From people everywhere.

Together we’re racing for a better world. A zero carbon and resilient world. A healthier, safer, fairer world. A world of wellbeing, abundance and joy, where the air is fresher, our jobs are well-paid and dignified, and our future is clear.

To get there we need to run fast, and get faster. We need more and more people to join the race, and right now. This is not about 2050, it’s about today.

Together, we can do this.
And we’re already on our way.

Climate-proofing SMEs

A campaign to empower and enable Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to take ambitious climate action

Why Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)?

90% of businesses and over 50% of global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) & greenhouse gas emissions
70% of global employment
66% already experiencing effects of climate change
Critical to global supply chains and local communities.

Nigar Arparadai

“SMEs are the backbone of the global economy, driving 50-80% of growth in many countries. SMEs are crucial for climate success. My campaign will focus on empowering SMEs to thrive in the green transition – boosting climate literacy, access to finance and resilience.

I am bringing together leading initiatives working with SMEs to consolidate their support offerings, in order to align, strengthen and elevate the support network available to smaller businesses to take their place as part of the global climate action aims. I am in particular calling on large corporations, global institutions, and regional actors to increase support and capacity building for SMEs in their value chains.

I also invite SMEs themselves to start their climate journey today and join the thousands future-proofing themselves and their communities by joining the Race to Zero and Race to Resilience.”

– Nigar Arparadai

UN Climate Change High-Level Champion, COP29

Campaign Objectives

Capacity building: increase SME access to tailored resources and capacity building
Celebrating leadership: mobilise and showcase SME climate leadership
Catalytic collaborations: call on large organisations to support SMEs in value chains

Campaign Collaborators

“We cannot build a healthy planet without healthy SMEs, the backbone of our global economy. " — Sherry Madera, CEO of CDP
"The Climate Proofing SMEs campaign represents a crucial milestone in strengthening private sector engagement with the climate agenda.We are proud to be part of this impactful collective effort, helping to facilitate this process on a global scale." — Ude Lottfi, COO of Climate Ventures
"As we approach COP29, it’s imperative that leading small and medium-sized businesses globally take responsibility and make the SME Climate Commitment." — María Mendiluce, CEO of the We Mean Business Coalition, host organization of the SME Climate Hub
"Board-level understanding of the risks and opportunities associated with climate change is pivotal to addressing the challenge in a timely manner and requires every available tool at our disposal across every business in the economy." — Emily Farnworth, Director of the Centre for Climate Engagement, Hughes Hall

Get in Touch

For more information please contact climateproofingsmes@climatechampions.team

Climate-proofing SMEs

Why Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs)?

Nigar Arparadai

Campaign Objectives

Campaign Collaborators

Read More from Our Campaign Collaborators

Find Out How We are Driving Action, Together.

Get in Touch

Further Reading