COLLABORATIVE ACTION RESEARCH
The SME in transition action-research initiative began in January 2023 and will officially conclude on January 12, 2025. This project aims to reveal and co-create innovative approaches to help SMEs undertake and accelerate their transition to a low-carbon economy.
COLLABORATIVE ACTION RESEARCH AIMS TO :
Strengthen the willingness and capacity of manufacturing SMEs to implement climate action.
Activate a business ecosystem conducive to accelerating the transition to a low-carbon, "net positive" economy.
HIGHLIGHTS
Mobilization of manufacturing SMEs to measure their GHGs and implement climate actions.
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Manufacturing SMEs need simple tools, accessible expertise and subsidies to take action on GHG measurement. Increased pressure from governments, customers and investors as well as a clear and predictable legal framework for disclosure requirements would also accelerate this adoption. Despite the significant challenges, particularly in terms of lack of expertise, costs and complexity, manufacturing SMEs in Quebec have every advantage in integrating GHG measurement into their strategic management in order to implement and prioritize actions with real positive impacts for them.
Foresight: thinking about tomorrow to act today.
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Although perceived as complex
or abstract, foresight is a key approach to integrating the socio-ecological transition into the strategic planning of those who practice it. By sharpening creativity and systemic thinking, this discipline can help overcome short-term reflexes, explore solutions aligned with their long-term objectives, seize new business opportunities and evolve their business model so that they are ready to evolve in a low-carbon economy. The variety and adaptability of approaches and formats will undoubtedly allow a growing number of organizations to integrate foresight into their strategic planning, according to their objectives and resources.
Communities of practice: catalysts for the transition.
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Although perceived as complex or abstract, foresight is a key approach to integrating the socio-ecological transition into the strategic planning of those who practice it. By sharpening creativity and systemic thinking, this discipline can help overcome short-term reflexes, explore solutions aligned with their long-term objectives, seize new business opportunities and evolve their business model so that they are ready to evolve in a low-carbon economy. The variety and adaptability of approaches and formats will undoubtedly allow a growing number of organizations to integrate foresight into their strategic planning, according to their objectives and resources.
Strategic Monitoring : tools to anticipate and take action.
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Strategic monitoring is crucial for identifying emerging signals, anticipating trends and guiding SMEs towards sustainable practices. It supports decision-making, allows you to be on the lookout for best practices, discover inspiring companies and better support customers in their ecological transition.
Human factor: barriers to climate action
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Better understanding the cognitive, psychological, psychosocial, motivational, or emotional factors underlying how SME owners and co-owners perceive the climate challenge allows for exploring barriers to climate action from a new perspective. This qualitative research revealed that factors such as learned helplessness, confirmation bias, or psychological distance can influence decisions and hinder climate action.
KEY RECOMMENDATIONS
3 PRIORITY AREAS OF ACTION-RESEARCH TO BE PURSUED
SEE IN REPLAY
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THANKS TO ALL OUR COLLABORATORS AND PARTNERS
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Rachel Lefrancois (Québec Net Positif), Mélanie McDonald (Chemins de transition), Marguerite Rose (BDC), Anne-Josée Laquerre (Québec Net Positif), Frédérique Mouly (Excellence industrielle Saint-Laurent); Deuxième rangée de gauche à droite : Benoît Péran (CRE Montérégie), Katrin Hauschild (Québec Net Positif), Joëlle Vincent (Ciblexpert); Troisième rangée de gauche à droite : Isabelle Lemay (Banque Laurentienne), Marie-Pierre Garcia (Banque Laurentienne), Leesa Hodgson (Excellence industrielle Saint-Laurent), Léa Leroux (PHAR), Caroline Bouchard (PHAR) , Yves Lusignan (Ciblexpert); Quatrième rangée de gauche à droite : Jérémie Bourgault (ADDERE), Pascale Lagacé (BRAV.), Jeanne Martel-Thibault (Québec Net Positif), Jacques Blanchet (Maison du Développement Durable), Sylvain Foulon (Excellence industrielle Saint-Laurent), Marc Delesclefs (Ciblexpert).
Supported by
Outreach Partner
« At Laurentian Bank, we put our customers first and are constantly committed to helping them "see beyond numbers”. We integrate environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects into our operations and have started to engage in constructive dialogue on ESG issues with our clients. We are proud to support this new collaborative action research initiated by Quebec Net Positive and to join a group of leaders committed to helping Quebec SMEs make a successful transition, implement climate actions and get ready to thrive in a low-carbon, more just and sustainable economy »
– Éric Provost, Executive Vice President, Business Services and President, Quebec Market, Laurentian Bank
« At BDC, we are fully aligned with the ultimate goal of this action research project proposed by Québec Net Positif. We believe that the B Corp movement, to which we belong, is already contributing to the realization of the vision put forward by Québec Net Positif. Indeed, the SME in Transition program aims to ensure that companies recognize the benefits of going beyond mitigating their negative impacts and realize their full potential to collectively generate net positive impacts on society and the environment. Together, we are encouraging more and more Quebec SMEs to imagine and implement transition trajectories that contribute to Canada's 2050 carbon neutrality goal »
– Craig Ryan, Director, Sustainability & ESG, BDC