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This initiative exemplifies the school’s commitment to bridging academic research with practical business applications. The Clinic partners students with SMEs, providing tools for identifying and reducing their carbon emissions, with Mountain Equipment Company (MEC) as its first Supply Chain Partner. This collaboration directly aids in minimizing the Scope 3 emissions of larger companies like MEC, enhancing sustainability across the supply chain.
Pioneering change through academic-industry collaboration
This partnership represents a significant achievement for UBC Sauder’s Centre for Climate and Business Solutions in connecting academia and students with real-world business needs. Collaborations like this will provide direct services in carbon accounting and emission reduction strategies from students supervised by expert faculty.
This initiative not only translates academic expertise into actionable environmental solutions but also offers tangible support to SMEs that lack the necessary resources. At the same time, UBC Sauder students will gain practical, hands-on skills in carbon accounting and sustainability metrics, preparing them to champion climate action and lead change.
"The SME Climate Clinic is a crucial capacity-building tool to help small businesses by matching them with students eager to apply their carbon accounting skills.
This is an example of how academic learning can be integrated with real-world applications, providing direct benefits to SMEs and larger companies alike."
- Caren Lombard, Lead faculty for the SME Climate Clinic.
A collaborative approach to achieving sustainability goals
For larger corporations like MEC, the SME Climate Clinic helps address the often challenging Scope 3 emissions. These emissions, which occur in a company's value chain, can be difficult to quantify and manage. By supporting their supply chain partners in reducing emissions, larger companies can make significant strides towards their own sustainability goals. This collaborative approach ensures that sustainability efforts are comprehensive and impactful across the entire value chain.
The SME Climate Clinic is just the beginning. The Centre for Climate and Business Solutions at UBC Sauder is committed to expanding this model and creating more partnerships with both SMEs and large corporations. Future cohorts will build on the success of the MEC partnership, broadening the scope of industries and companies involved. Other clinics include the LCA Clinic for SMEs, Climate Finance Clinic, Climate Media Clinic, all will be launched later in 2024.
Related resources
SME Climate Clinic: https://www.sauder.ubc.ca/ubc-sauder-sme-climate-clinic?auHash=dEaOsztWHlPhsTMVXSwbaTP9aia2N7GLIdu_4rHzi1c
LCA Clinic for SMEs: https://www.sauder.ubc.ca/thought-leadership/research-outreach-centres/centre-climate-and-business-solutions-ccbs/lca-clinic