Three quarters of SME senior decision makers in the UK and Ireland believe their businesses can help tackle climate change, according to research conducted by Close Brothers.

Some 94% of SMEs say they have policies in place to reduce their impact on the environment. The most popular steps they are taking to help tackle climate change include recycling (59%), being energy efficient (46%), and going paperless (31%).

Similarly, many believe they will be able to reduce their carbon footprint significantly by 2050. At the top end, 35% believe they will become completely carbon neutral and 22% estimate they can reach 75% carbon offset. However, a further 20% say reducing carbon emissions is not a priority for them and expect to counterbalance less than a quarter of the carbon dioxide they release.

Commenting on the findings, CEO of Close Brothers Invoice and Speciality Finance, David Thomson said: “Climate change is now a prevalent concern for everyone, and we must all adapt to reduce the impact we have on the environment. For many businesses, resulting changes will present both challenges and opportunities.

“Companies that implement policies which address climate change now are most likely to meet environmental targets and thrive in the future. It is therefore positive to see that many SMEs are already taking steps to help.”

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