Crisis and opportunity: transforming climate governance for SMEs

HAMPTON, Sam, BLUNDEL, Richard, EADSON, William, NORTHALL, Phil and SUGAR, Katherine (2023). Crisis and opportunity: transforming climate governance for SMEs. Global Environmental Change, 82: 102707.

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Abstract

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are key actors in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Their aggregate emissions are significant, and they are disproportionately affected by climate impacts, including extreme weather events. SMEs also play a vital role in shaping the environmental behaviours of individuals, communities, and other businesses. However, these organisations have been largely neglected by climate policies across all levels of government. A series of global crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, war in Europe and the Middle East, and energy price spikes, have posed an existential threat to millions of SMEs, while also acting as a catalyst for the reconfiguration of the social contract between business, society and the state, both temporary and more long-term. In this article, we make the case for increased focus on the governance of SME decarbonisation to address this turbulent context. We outline key challenges facing public policymakers and other governance actors, compare strategic options, identify evidence gaps that hinder effective interventions, and highlight implications for research. In doing so we set out key elements of a renewed social contract for business, society and state relations.

Item Type:	Article
Additional Information:	Source info: GEC-D-22-01379
Uncontrolled Keywords:	SMEs; Governance; Climate change; climate policy; energy crisis; business; Environmental Sciences
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2023.102707
SWORD Depositor:	Symplectic Elements
Depositing User:	Symplectic Elements
Date Deposited:	12 Jun 2023 08:59
Last Modified:	11 Oct 2023 14:02
URI:	https://shura.shu.ac.uk/id/eprint/31994

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