Quebec’s SMEs in Transition must be better equipped to thrive in an economy in transition
MONTREAL, Dec. 7, 2021 – As the transition to a low-carbon economy gathers pace, Quebec’s SMEs are struggling to actively prepare for it. This is one of the key findings of the “Hyphen” summary report produced by QNP, following consultations carried out in collaboration with Green Economy Canada.
The consultations provided a snapshot of the reality of Quebec SMEs and the business ecosystem in which they operate. Here are the main findings:
- Low-carbon SMEs are not actively preparing for the accelerating transition to a low-carbon economy– Very few have carried out an inventory of their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and know their significant sources of emissions.
- Lack of knowledge, shortage of manpower, the post-pandemic recovery context and the absence of regulatory constraints are the main obstacles to climate action by SMEs.
- It’s complex for SMEs to access resources tailored to their needs– The current service offering is mainly aimed at large companies, and is not accessible in a simple, unified way from an SME perspective.
- Government targets set over a long-term horizon (2030-2050) are difficult to translate into short-term objectives, at the scale of an SME– SMEs generally don’t set reduction targets. They don’t know whether the value chains of which they are a part are aligned on a transition pathway compatible with global warming well below 2˙C, or what actions to implement to do so.
In light of these findings, the consultations identified a number of tangible needs. In particular, more resources should be deployed to play a vital “link” role at three levels:
- “Bridging the gap between SMEs and the resources available in the business ecosystem: Through dedicated experts who are attuned to their needs and able to bridge the gap with existing resources, SMEs would be better supported in making a success of their transition.
- “Bridging the gap between the current economic model and the new low-carbon economy: Awareness-raising and mobilization efforts need to be stepped up to compensate for the lack of information about the ongoing transition. Better support and tools that can be used by SMEs must enable leaders to anticipate the issues at stake; imagine plausible transition pathways for their company, their business sector and their region; initiate and accelerate the transition, on an individual and collective basis. Additional funding needs to be directed towards startups that create new business models and solutions. Finally, access to local, national and international markets for products with a carbon advantage and strong export potential must be promoted.
- “A link between economic development players and transition experts: New knowledge about plausible transition pathways for the global, Canadian and Quebec economies is constantly evolving. By ensuring that the economic players who support SMEs are always better equipped, they will benefit from better support, at the right time, to face the challenges and prepare to seize the business opportunities that lie ahead.
The consultations were carried out with the support of Desjardins Group and the McConnell Foundation as Partners, and Energir as Collaborator.
In addition to the qualitative information gathered from 151 individuals, the report incorporates quantitative data drawn from the survey on sustainable development, eco-responsible practices and clean technologies carried out on over 4,300 companies by the Institut de la Statistique du Québec.
“The ongoing mobilization towards a low-carbon economy is a genuine opportunity for Quebec to diversify its trade partnerships and rethink its economic development to promote sustainable prosperity across all regions of Quebec,” emphasizes Anne-Josée Laquerre, Executive Director of QNP. “Many innovative SMEs are already acting as accelerators of the transition. We all stand to benefit from more and more SMEs being made aware, mobilized, and equipped to succeed in their transition.”
“We were inspired by the discovery of Quebec’s vibrant sustainable development ecosystem and enjoyed meeting over 150 stakeholders interested in exchanging ideas on how to accelerate the transition of businesses to a low-carbon economy,” notes Priyanka Lloyd, Executive Director of Green Economy Canada.“We look forward to leveraging our experience building a green economy through Carrefours in various regions across Canada to partner with local organizations interested in gaining new knowledge and strengthening support for Quebec businesses.”
“The findings of the consultations will help us to better target the support needs of our members and customers in the transition to a decidedly lower-carbon economy,” says Jean-Yves Bourgeois, Senior Vice-President, Business Services at Desjardins Group. “This is part of our action plan to achieve, by 2040, a net zero emissions balance for our operations and for our financing and equity investment activities in three carbon-intensive sectors: energy, transportation and real estate,” he concludes.
Find out more
Read the press release on Cision: click here
Téléchargez le rapport : Trait d’union : Besoin des PME face à l’accélération de la transition et pertinence d’établir des carrefours d’économie sobre en carbone au Québec
About Québec Net Positif
QNP is an independent, not-for-profit think tank dedicated to accelerating the transition of Quebec’s economy towards a low-carbon, net-positive future. Its mission is to raise awareness, equip and mobilize companies to go beyond risk mitigation and activate their full potential to create positive impacts on society and the environment.
About Green Economy Canada
Green Economy Canada is a national not-for-profit organization whose mission is to accelerate Canada’s transition to an inclusive and dynamic net-zero future. With the power of a national network of over 300 companies in nine Carrefours, Green Economy Canada works to improve business, together! www.greeneconomy.ca