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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on CBC News or enjoy below:
🗞️ Driving the news: Small business owners in Canada are struggling to reconcile their climate ambitions with financial pressures, as the high cost of going net zero strains already tight margins
• Entrepreneurs like Asha Wheeldon of Kula Foods report challenges with sustainable packaging, customer price sensitivity, and inconsistent infrastructure support
• With small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) responsible for 52% of Canadian business-related emissions, their participation is crucial to Canada’s 2050 net-zero goal — yet many feel “shaken to the core” trying to deliver on both mission and profitability
🔭 The context: Canada has more than one million SMEs, which collectively account for about 41% of the country’s total emissions
• Many owners are still recovering from COVID-19, inflation, and trade disruptions, and face difficulty absorbing the upfront costs of green infrastructure and more sustainable operations
• Despite voluntary efforts and some government rebates, the business climate and customer focus on affordability have made it harder for SMEs to justify investments in emissions reduction
🌍 Why it matters for the planet: SMEs form the backbone of the Canadian economy, and their transition is essential to achieving national climate goals
• While their size makes them more vulnerable to costs, it also means they can act as agile innovators and early adopters — provided they have sufficient policy support and incentives
• The challenge lies in ensuring that sustainability becomes part of business resilience, not an added burden that risks undermining economic and climate progress alike
⏭️ What's next: Advocates urge stronger government action to improve green infrastructure, expand grant and rebate programs, and help SMEs access affordable financing for upgrades
• Over time, consumer expectations may shift back toward prioritising sustainability, but in the near term, targeted education and policy interventions are seen as key to keeping businesses on the path to net zero. • Businesses will also need to focus on “low-hanging fruit” in energy efficiency and emissions reductions that offer clear cost savings
💬 One quote: “I can tell you from my small business community, most of us want to do the right thing. We want to be part of the solution,” — Asha Wheeldon, owner of Kula Foods
📈 One stat: SMEs produce approximately 52% of Canadian business-related greenhouse gas emissions, equal to 41% of the country’s total emissions
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