skip to content

Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL)

CISL has partnered with the SME Climate Hub, a global community and online resource platform for small and medium size enterprises (SMEs) looking to transition to the green economy. The Hub aims to support over one million SMEs globally to halve greenhouse gas emissions before 2030 and achieve net zero emissions before 2050. Resources available will include educational courses, guidance on business strategies and financial support, and tools for measuring and reporting emissions.

“This is the critical decade of action for people, nature and climate – and a huge opportunity to reimagine and regenerate our economies and societies. Unleashing the power of small businesses that represent over 90% of the global economy has to be a priority.”

Clare Shine, Director & CEO, CISL 

Financial support for reducing emissions 


As part of a We Mean Business collaboration, the Banking Environment Initiative at CISL and Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) have created resources to help businesses understand and obtain financial support to reduce their emissions:  

  1. Online guide to financial support for SMEs 
  2. Climate Fit: net zero training for SMEs 

The first of these resources, published in January 2022, provides businesses with information about: 

  1. Where and how SMEs can obtain financial support for reducing emissions 
  2. Guidance for SMEs on engaging with banks and buyers about such financial support 
  3. Examples of available sources of funding, including success stories  

Access the SME Climate Hub financial support resource

In 2022, CISL, through the Banking Environment Initiative, and BSR will be developing innovations to further support SMEs with the financial aspect of moving toward net zero emissions. 

To find out more about SMEs, Finance and the Net Zero Transition download CISL's introductory presentation here.

We invite you to share this with your network and small business communities.

 

Climate Fit: net zero training for SMEs 


Climate Fit is a free, self-paced online training course to help SMEs reduce their carbon emissions as they join the collective race to net zero. Developed by the CISL Accelerator team, and Business for Social Responsibility (BSR), it aims to equip SMEs with the knowledge and practical skills to take action on climate change.  

Delivered over seven modules, Climate Fit guides SMEs through the decarbonisation journey, covering: governance and strategy, operations, supply chain, design for net zero, finance, people and community, and net zero storytelling. Participants are coached every step of the way and empowered to take an active role in bridging the global emissions gap.  

Find out more and access the course here.