More than six million small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the globe are calling on world leaders to take urgent and coordinated action to support business-led climate progress, warning that the path to net zero will stall without their inclusion.
In an open letter released ahead of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Brazil, the SME Climate Hub and its global partners urged governments to adopt a unified set of policies that unlock green finance, simplify climate guidance, and create meaningful incentives for smaller firms to take action.
SMEs account for 90 per cent of global businesses and generate over half of the world’s GDP, yet they are among the least supported when it comes to decarbonisation. Despite their crucial role in local economies and international supply chains, most small businesses still face significant barriers to climate action. A recent SME Climate Hub survey found that 80 per cent of respondents reported either minimal government support or no awareness of existing climate-related incentives.
“The global climate transition cannot succeed if SMEs are left behind,” said Pamela Jouven, Director of the SME Climate Hub. “Governments have the power to turn climate risk into business opportunity. We’re urging Heads of Delegations at COP30 to adopt a practical policy framework that empowers SMEs and recognises them as vital contributors to the net zero transition.”
The open letter calls for governments to strengthen national frameworks so that SMEs are formally recognised within climate and biodiversity strategies and included in consultation processes. It also advocates for the integration of small firms into public procurement systems, ensuring they can compete fairly for green contracts and become part of sustainable value chains.
Jouven and her fellow signatories argue that governments must do more to demonstrate the business case for decarbonisation, including funding research that quantifies the commercial benefits of net zero strategies — from energy efficiency savings and improved resilience to risk, to access to new markets and customers.
Another key priority is clarity. Many SMEs are held back not by reluctance, but by confusion. The letter urges policymakers to develop consistent, centralised guidance to help small firms navigate reporting requirements and access credible resources for climate adaptation and emissions reduction.
Above all, the group stresses that progress depends on unlocking finance. It calls on financial institutions and governments to design funding models that meet the needs of smaller enterprises, including tailored green loans, grants, tax incentives and government-backed guarantees.
“Small businesses are the backbone of economies and global supply chains,” Jouven added. “Empowering them to take climate action will accelerate the delivery of national net zero targets and build resilience across the global economy.”
The letter’s release comes as climate financing is expected to dominate the agenda at COP30 in Belém, Brazil. With SMEs employing two billion people worldwide, the SME Climate Hub warns that failing to equip them for the green transition would not only jeopardise climate goals but risk leaving vast sections of the economy unprepared for the low-carbon future.