This text is part of the special Business Challenges section
Over the next two years, Québec Net Positif, an independent non-profit think tank whose raison d’être is to accelerate the transition to a low-carbon and “net positive” economy, will conduct a research project -collaborative action to help Quebec manufacturing SMEs act for the climate.
THE Business transition barometer – manufacturing sector, published in April 2023 by Québec Net Positif, indicates that 87% of them believe in the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and that 81% believe that they have an important role to play to succeed. However, almost half admit to not acting in this direction.
“We recently carried out the low-carbon SME project, which offered training to entrepreneurs to implement climate actions, but it was insufficient,” explains Anne-Josée Laquerre, general director of Québec Net Positif. What is needed is to create a conducive business climate throughout their ecosystem. »
Targets to achieve
It is with this objective in mind that the SME in transition initiative is launched. “It will end in 2025, in the middle of the great decade of transition,” specifies the general director. There are important targets to achieve in 2030, so it is urgent to move forward. » Quebec wants to reduce its GHG emissions by 37.5% below the 1990 level by 2030.
The project aims to strengthen the willingness and capacity of manufacturing SMEs to implement climate actions, but above all to activate a business ecosystem favorable to accelerating the transition to a low-carbon economy. It is one of 16 research projects announced by the federal Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Steven Guilbeault, last March.
SMEs in transition are divided into three components, the first of which is regional and sectoral mobilization. Québec Net Positif will focus on the regions of Montreal, Montérégie and Estrie, where there are many manufacturing SMEs and a diversity of urban and rural environments. “Climate actions vary between urban and rural environments,” emphasizes Anne-Josée Laquerre. We also see significant differences depending on the sectors of economic activity. »
Another component will observe communities of practice. Do managers know the challenges and solutions of the transition to low carbon? Are they aware of the urgency to act? “We want to understand how to organize communities of practice on these subjects so that they serve well in taking action,” explains Anne-Josée Laquerre.
A sea of information
When it comes to a subject as vast and complex as the ecological transition, information is the crux of the matter. The SME in transition project will therefore include a monitoring and business intelligence component, supported by Ciblexpert, Chemins de transition and PHAR.
Good strategic monitoring makes it possible to stay on the lookout and detect weak signals, that is to say information that still circulates little, but which announces trends, threats or opportunities. “This helps you make better decisions more quickly,” says Caroline Bouchard, training and facilitation associate at PHAR. When we understand what is happening, we can act. »
PHAR will therefore endeavor to collect a lot of information on cases of companies committed to the climate in Quebec and elsewhere and on a plethora of specific subjects, such as sustainable sourcing, environmental certifications, materials management residual emissions, measurement and management of GHGs, etc.
“Participants will receive monthly monitoring which will specify why they should read a particular document, in addition to benefiting from regular meetings to discuss these subjects,” adds Caroline Bouchard. These meetings will be particularly important in creating a ripple effect. »
The project will be the subject of two research reports, in January 2024 and January 2025. Anne-Josée Laquerre confides that she wants to organize a major event in 2025 in order to share the knowledge acquired. “We hope to identify key elements to build business environments favorable to the transition, which will become tools for moving forward more quickly,” she concludes.
The ecological transition, yes, but…
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