Green fintech Cogo has partnered with the Carbon Literacy Project, in a move to help SMEs deliver climate action and secure a Carbon Literate Organisation accreditation.
Through the new collaboration, Cogo will add a new Carbon Literacy action within its Carbon Manager tool, as it looks to encourage SMEs to initiate a Carbon Literacy training programme for staff to take more effective climate action and secure accreditation for the organisation.
“SMEs contribute to 13 per cent of global carbon emissions and consume 50 per cent of commercial and industrial energy, so they have the potential to have significant climate impact,” explained Cogo CEO Emma Kisby. “However, we know from our work with SMEs that many of them face challenges when taking climate action. Most don’t have a background in sustainability, so they’re unsure where to start.”
SMEs cite this lack of knowledge regarding climate change and measuring their carbon footprint as an overarching resistance to prioritising climate action. Despite this resistance, SMEs are under increasing pressure to measure and report on their carbon emissions.
While there aren’t any regulations affecting the majority of SMEs directly, regulatory requirements for larger corporations increasingly include reporting on Scope 3 emissions. This covers reporting the footprint of purchased goods and services, which is often from SME suppliers.
Kisby adds: “Carbon literacy and reporting is not just a nice to have, it is fundamental to the continued financial viability of many SMEs.”
Empowering SMEs
The Carbon Literacy training is a day’s worth of climate learning and action, providing the knowledge, motivation and skills for staff and businesses to take meaningful climate action. After completing the course and implementing any business changes, the project will award SMEs Bronze, Silver, Gold or Platinum accreditation.
Dave Coleman, managing director at The Carbon Literacy Project, adds: “Carbon Literacy is not just a desirable skill – it’s a necessity for every business, particularly SMEs navigating barriers to climate action.
“Achieving Carbon Literate Organisation accreditation demonstrates organisational commitment, embedding Carbon Literacy into the fabric of an organisation’s culture and operations while providing a tangible ‘badge’ of achievement.
“We are delighted Cogo is recognising the significance of this accreditation by incorporating it into its Carbon Manager tool, and we are confident that our partnership will help empower SMEs to deliver decisive climate action and secure their future in the low-carbon economy.”
