The COP28 Presidency has teamed up with SME Climate Hub and the We Mean Business Coalition to introduce a programme aimed at the integration of net zero strategies among SMEs in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). The MENA branch of the SME Climate Hub aims to support companies with fewer than 500 employees, enabling them to partake in the Race to Zero. This initiative will grant these SMEs access to a range of free tools and resources, helping them to incorporate emissions reduction measures into their operations. Further, it will encourage them to provide annual reports on their sustainability and net zero progress. COP28’s CEO Adnan Amin said: “Expanding the SME Climate Hub’s regionalisation in MENA will help us to deliver the most inclusive COP to date, support SMEs with their climate goals and ensure they are a vital part of our collective efforts to keep 1.5° C within reach.” The programme will be executed in partnership with Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company – Masdar, with support from First Abu Dhabi Bank and the Abu Dhabi Chamber. Al Qubaisi, CEO of Abu Dhabi Chamber, described the programme as “a crucial step in efforts to enhance the success of SMEs while promoting sustainability and aligning with the UAE’s ambitious Green Agenda 2030 and net zero commitments”.
