The majority of Australia’s small and medium businesses want to take action on climate change, but feel powerless because they do not know how to, according to a new survey.
The AFS SME Sustainability Index, a quarterly survey of Australian small and medium enterprises (SMEs), conducted by AFS in conjunction with Net Balance, found that of the 800 SMEs interviewed, 66 percent want to take action on climate change, but don’t know how.
As part of the survey, owners, general managers, chief executives and financial officers of 800 businesses employing five to 200 people in over 14 industries were interviewed to gauge their views on climate change and sustainability practices within their own business.
Despite three-quarters of SMEs believing they are environmentally friendly, the survey shows that they are actually doing little to reduce their carbon footprint.
AFS executive chairman Drew Le Grand said that businesses want to take action but there is a shortage of guidance from industry groups and government.
“For many SMEs reducing their paper, water and energy use and cutting their waste, is lowering costs and benefiting their bottom line, but more complex activities could boost their profits even more and have a greater impact on climate change,” he said.
People who read this, also liked:
Green advisory board helps tackle climate change
