CHARLESTON and LONDON, Nov 20, 2021 — Premlall Consulting joins SME Climate Hub and commits to halve greenhouse gas emissions before 2030 towards net zero before 2050.
Premlall Consulting announced today that they have become one of the first companies to join the SME Climate Hub, a new groundbreaking one-stop-shop climate action platform for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to curb carbon emissions, build business resilience and take climate leadership.
The SME Climate Hub is co-hosted by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, the We Mean Business coalition and the United Nations Race to Zero campaign, and has received support from several supply chain leaders, including BT Group, Ericsson, IKEA, Telia and Unilever, as well as funding support from Amazon and Verizon.
Premlall Consulting has become one of the first signatories to the UN-recognized “SME Climate Commitment”, which forms part of the SME Climate Hub. In making this commitment, Premlall Consulting has pledged to halve its carbon emissions by 2030, achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 and to regularly report on progress towards these aims.
On the logic behind the company’s decision to join the initiative, Anil Premlall said, “Whether big or small we can all do our part in achieving a healthier or more productive world. It’s an ongoing effort and we can achieve this through volunteering, investing in social and environmental initiatives, ethical practices, being more environmentally conscious and donating. As an advocate and supporter United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), we are always looking for innovative ways to act and make a difference. The SME Climate Hub provides the framework and tools that aligns well with our goals.”
The SME Climate Hub was launched at the start of the UN General Assembly Week and New York Climate Week by the High Level Climate Action Champion for the United Kingdom, Nigel Topping and has received initial financial support from Amazon and Verizon, through their partnership with the We Mean Business coalition.
The SME Climate Hub will provide SMEs with a range of accessible tools and resources to help them reduce emissions and build business resilience. The platform will couple these tailored resources with opportunities for businesses to unlock direct commercial incentives – from government tax breaks to procurement preferences provided by major businesses such as BT Group, Ericsson, Ikea, Telia and Unilever, who have all agreed to work with their SME suppliers to improve climate performance and also provide concrete tools, share knowledge and exchange best practices for implementing robust climate strategies through the SME Climate Hub.
One of the most pressing existential threats to SMEs is climate emergency. It has the potential to slow economic growth by causing material damage; limiting resource availability; causing shifts in demand; leading to business interruptions and production disruptions; causing supply chain interference; and forcing business closures. With 40 to 60 percent of small businesses never reopening after a disaster, curbing carbon emissions and building business resilience is critical.
The Importance of SMEs in the UK
In the UK, there are 5.5 million SMEs and these businesses are responsible for 52% percent of GDP and 61% percent of employment. SMEs are therefore the backbone of the United Kingdom’s economy, and the SME Climate Hub will support.
In this context, Adina Hutanu, President said, “The UK has committed to reducing emissions by 80% by 2050, compared to 1990 levels. The Climate Change Act was the first piece of legislation to set out a framework for reducing emissions, and was followed by the 2008 Climate Change Act, which set out a legally binding commitment to cut emissions by 80% by 2050.”
“This legislation is only one part of the story. The SME Climate Hub will help to generate the revenue to invest in clean energy projects. This will create jobs, drive down the cost of clean energy, and reduce the greenhouse gas emissions that are harming our planet. By 2050, the UK will need to generate an additional 50% of its energy from renewable sources.”
“The SME Climate Hub will help SMEs reduce their energy consumption and their carbon emissions.”
The Importance of SMEs in the US
In the US, there are 30.7 million SMEs and these businesses are responsible for 43.5% percent of GDP and 47.3 percent of employment. SMEs are therefore the backbone of the United States economy and the SME Climate Hub will support.
In this context, Anil Premlall, CEO said, “As SMEs have the capability to make, and effect change since we can move much faster and have less hurdles to overcome to achieve net zero. With all SMEs onboard we can essentially get nearly half of the United States businesses to net zero carbon emissions. We are competitive and this is a race with Bhutan and Suriname already across the finish line. When do we want to cross the finish line?”
About the SME Climate Hub
The SME Climate Hub is an initiative founded by the International Chamber of Commerce, the Exponential Roadmap Initiative, the We Mean Business coalition and the UNFCCC Race to Zero campaign, with the aim of supporting small and medium-sized businesses to build business resilience. The SME Climate Hub provides a one-stop-shop for SMEs to commit to climate action and access tools, incentives and other resources designed to make it easier than ever for small and medium-sized businesses to cut carbon emissions, bring innovative green solutions to market and build business resilience.
For more information about the SME Climate Hub, visit: www.smeclimatehub.org
About the SME Climate Commitment:
The SME Climate Hub provides any business with less than 500 employees with the opportunity to publicly demonstrate its commitment to climate action by signing the SME Climate Commitment. Making the commitment means that your business will start to take immediate climate action in order to:
- Halve greenhouse gas emissions before 2030
- Achieve net zero emissions before 2050
- Disclose progress on a yearly basis
For more information about the SME Climate Commitment, visit: https://www.smeclimatehub.org/sme-climate-commitment
About the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)
ICC is the institutional representative of more than 45 million companies in over 100 countries with a mission to make business work for everyone, every day, everywhere.
Through a unique mix of advocacy, solutions and standard setting, we promote international trade, responsible business conduct and a global approach to regulation — in addition to providing market-leading dispute resolution services. Our members include many of the world’s leading companies, SMEs, business associations and local chambers of commerce.
We act as the primary voice of the real economy in a range of intergovernmental organizations – from the United Nations to the World Trade Organization – championing the needs of local business in global decision making. Find out more at: iccwbo.org
About Exponential Roadmap Initiative
The Exponential Roadmap Initiative brings together technology innovators, scientists, companies and NGOs, with the mission to accelerate climate action exponentially. The initiative has released the Exponential Roadmap, highlighting the 36 solutions that can scale exponentially to halve Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 2030 worldwide, and the 1.5°C Business Playbook, a guideline for companies and organizations of all sizes to set a 1.5°C aligned strategy and move to action. Find out more at: exponentialroadmap.org.
About the UNFCCC Race to Zero Campaign
The UNFCCC Race to Zero campaign is an international campaign that brings together an unprecedented coalition of real economy actors and 120 governments committed to achieve net zero carbon emission by no later than 2050. These real economy actors include: 1,128 companies, 452 cities, 22 regions, 549 universities, 45 of the biggest investors and 2,100 chambers of commerce – creating the largest ever alliance committed to achieving net zero carbon emissions by no later than 2050: the “Climate Ambition Alliance.”
About the We Mean Business coalition
We Mean Business is a global coalition of nonprofit organizations working with the world’s most influential businesses to take action on climate change. The coalition brings together seven organizations: BSR, CDP, Ceres, The B Team, The Climate Group, The Prince of Wales’s Corporate Leaders Group and the World Business Council for Sustainable Development. Together we catalyze business action to drive policy ambition and accelerate the transition to a zero-carbon economy. Find out more at: wemeanbusinesscoaltion.org.
