Event

Welcome and introduction: SMEs' role in North America in light of the triple planetary crisis

Jorge Daniel Taillant, Executive Director of the CEC

In his opening remarks, the Executive Director of the CEC will analyze the SMEs’ impacts on the triple planetary crisis of climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution. He will stress the importance of strengthening trilateral cooperation in North America, in the framework of agreements such as the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), to facilitate the transition of small and medium-size enterprises toward more sustainable business models. He will also call on participants to reflect on how the CEC can support SMEs.

Challenges and opportunities for SMEs

Carlos Villanueva, National Vice President for Sustainable Development Objectives, CANACINTRA

Carlos Villanueva will lead the discussion on the main obstacles that SMEs face in implementing environmental practices, such as financial limitations, lack of access to clean technologies and environmental compliance issues. He will also discuss the opportunities that arise from incorporating sustainability, such as improved competitiveness, access to new markets, the benefits of energy efficiency and lower waste generation.

Private-sector engagement strategy in environmental protection in North America

Marcela Orozco, Head of Unit, Advisory Groups and Private-Sector Engagement, CEC

In her presentation, Marcela Orozco will highlight how the CEC seeks to collaborate with the private sector in protecting the environment in North America by fostering the active engagement of enterprises in Canada, Mexico and the United States, in biodiversity conservation, climate action and sustainable development, with a focus aimed at creating both environmental and economic benefits in the region.

Open roundtable of specialists, with lead questions

(four questions, 20 minutes per question)

Table 1: The role of SMEs in the transition toward a sustainable future

• What is the current role of SMEs in the transition toward a sustainable future in North America?
• What are the main challenges and opportunities faced by SMEs in the adoption of environmental practices?
• What innovations or sustainable practices have been successfully implemented in your enterprise and what impact have you seen?
• What kind of regional incentives, resources or collaborations would be most useful to support SMEs in their transition toward sustainability?

Table 2: Collaboration between SMEs and other actors to foster sustainability

• How can SMEs collaborate with other actors, such as large companies, governments and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), to strengthen their sustainability?
• What resources, incentives or supports from other actors, such as large companies, governments and NGOs, would be most effective to foster the SMEs’ transition toward sustainability?
• How can partnerships between SMEs and larger companies facilitate the adoption of environmental practices in the supply and value chain, and what are the main barriers to overcome?
• What kind of regional incentives, resources or collaboration mechanisms would be most effective to support SMEs on their path to sustainability?

Table 3: Challenges and barriers to implementing environmental practices in SMEs

• What difficulties do SMEs face when attempting to comply with international regulations and standards?
• How can an SME measure, record and report its environmental impact effectively, even given limited resources?
• What barriers do SMEs face in recording, measuring and reporting their environmental impacts and carbon footprints?
• What kind of regional incentives, resources or collaborations would be most useful to support SMEs in their transitions toward sustainability?

Table 4: Overcoming SMEs‘ financial and technological limitations to sustainability

• What are the main financial limitations faced by SMEs when trying to implement environmental practices? How does the pressure to maintain short-term profitability affect SMEs’ adoption of environmental practices?
• What role does the lack of access to training and guidance play in the adoption of sustainability by SMEs?
• How does the lack of access to technology and tools influence SMEs’ capacity to reduce their environmental impact?
• What kind of regional incentives, resources or collaborations would be most useful to support SMEs in their transition toward sustainability?

Summary and identification of topics to be included in the CEC agenda

Final comments by Jorge Daniel Taillant, CEC Executive Director