The SME Climate Clinic will be the first of its kind in Canada to address the intention-action gap in emission reduction. This lab emphasizes building climate knowledge, offering intensive capacity training for students, and championing greener, more inclusive growth. Bringing together students, faculty, and SMEs equips the next generation with skills and prioritizes supporting resource-strapped companies. These SMEs form the backbone of the economy and are increasingly being asked by their customers to provide emissions reports. However, many SMEs are short-staffed, unsure where to begin, and lack necessary resources as more businesses adopt net-zero carbon targets. Guiding these SMEs in their efforts to reduce emissions further strengthens a more inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable economic landscape, ensuring that all sectors of the economy are prepared to tackle the challenges of climate change.
Like law or tax clinics, the SME Climate Lab offers a way for resource-strapped small and medium-sized companies to partner with students and participate in the net-zero economy. The program will teach students how to quantify and reduce an organization's carbon footprint by pairing them with an SME. Students will work with the SME on measuring, analyzing, and reporting key ESG metrics and then implement ways to improve these outcomes.
Participating SMEs will better understand their climate impact, risks, and strategies to navigate within a net-zero economy landscape. This engagement equips them with tools for sustainable practices and positions them to influence a greener future significantly.
Activities will include:
- Carbon accounting workshops: Teach students the tools and methods to calculate emissions.
- Partnership Programs: Pair students with local SMEs for hands-on experiential learning.
- Strategy Sessions: Conduct brainstorming and strategy-building exercises to reduce emissions.
- Progress Monitoring: Regular check-ins with partnered SMEs to track reduction efforts.
- Best Practices Development: Develop best practices and create benchmarks for unique sectors by focusing on SMEs from the same industry.
The SME Climate Lab aims to contribute to a sustainable future and a thriving economy by integrating climate action into curriculum, programming, and industry.
Benefits:
Both students and SMEs will acquire hands-on experience in emissions calculation and learn to navigate sustainability reporting challenges. There is a potential for the project to support ongoing emission management and demonstrate SMEs' climate commitments. By participating, SMEs can expect the following outcomes:
- Baseline Carbon Footprint Report: A detailed analysis of your current Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions, with some Scope 3 analysis, providing a foundation for tracking progress.
- Emission Reduction Plan: Recommendations for strategies to reduce carbon emissions based on the identified primary sources.
- ESG Reporting Guidance: Assistance with completing ESG questionnaires, essential for transparency with large customers and stakeholders.
In the future, SMEs will benefit from benchmarking analysis to understand their competitive stance on emissions and from continued education for sustainable emissions management within their teams.
How to Get Involved?
Students
- Enrollment in COMM486E: Climate-focused ESG Reporting and Analysis, which begins in January 2024, is a prerequisite for participation in the SME Climate Lab. This course provides a thorough understanding of climate reporting for businesses of varying sizes. It includes a hands-on project where students collaborate with an SME to calculate its carbon footprint.
- Space is limited. Indicate your interest in joining the next cohort and exploring other climate clinic opportunities here: https://forms.gle/CEEG2m8BFLDvTng29
SMEs
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The SME Climate Lab presents a unique collaborative opportunity for SMEs interested in ESG reporting or seeking B-Corp certification.
Eligible businesses should meet the following criteria:
- Staffing under 100 employees.
- Based in British Columbia, with some exceptions considered.
- Generating annual revenue from $1 million to $20 million.
- Operating primarily from one manufacturing facility, where applicable.
This partnership is especially beneficial for SMEs aiming to establish their baseline carbon footprint, focusing on Scope 1 and Scope 2 emissions. Such companies may have already faced or anticipate receiving ESG-related inquiries from large clients, including entities like UBC or the provincial government. The SME Climate Lab is a forward-thinking program designed to bolster SMEs' capabilities by providing the necessary support to assess carbon footprints, identify priority reduction strategies, and adeptly respond to questionnaires from significant customers, among other needs.
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To express your interests and join our September 2024 cohort, please complete the registration form here: https://forms.gle/qr7LVVr2HLaMyRiZ6