CECO ₂ SMEs

The Calculation of CO ₂ Emissions as a competitiveness tool for Small and Medium Enterprises (CECO ₂ SMEs)

Project developed by the Business and Climate Foundation co-financed by the Employ Green Program of the Biodiversity Foundation.
What is empleaverde?
The empleaverde programme is the initiative of the Biodiversity Foundation for the improvement of employment and the environment.

It integrates projects that initiate change processes related to the environment and sustainability. Under this program, the Foundation seeks alliances with other organizations and institutions that share the same objectives.

For the period 2007-2013, the Employ Green Program has set itself the goal of supporting more than 50,000 people and promoting the creation of some 1,000 companies linked to the environment. To achieve this goal, the Program has a total allocation of 44.1 million euros, of which the ESF co-finances 80% or 50% depending on the region in question.

The Employ Green Program supports projects that initiate change processes related to the environment and sustainability and that have among their objectives:

Promote and improve employment in general and green employment in particular.

• Increase the skills and qualification of workers in environmental and sustainability issues.
• To promote the modernisation and innovation of companies and sectors of activity.
• Promote the creation of companies linked to the environment.
• Adapt economic activities to environmental regulations.
• Promote the sustainability of economic activities.

This project contributes to the transformation towards a low carbon economy by providing information, training, tools and advice on the calculation of CO ₂ emissions to companies, particularly SMEs.

In this way, SMEs can use this tool as an element to improve competitiveness, since the environmental benefits of actions to reduce_CO2 emissions are linked to cost reductions, for example energy costs, which will allow them to strengthen their opportunities for the development of their business.

The project will promote knowledge of the benefits provided by this type of tool, awareness of the opportunities to improve the economic aspects of the business through actions with environmental benefits, and will encourage action regarding the reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases in sectors not required by legislation, which contributes to achieving the commitments made by the Government of Spain on Climate Change.

Why Extremadura?

The current situation requires that all sectors and economic activities make an effort to innovate to improve their competitiveness, the use and management of natural resources, in order to promote economic growth and job creation.

The Autonomous Community of Extremadura has the lowest GDP per inhabitant in Spain. In addition, an important part of its localities are located in rural areas, some of them in the vicinity of protected natural spaces, such as the Jerte or La Vera counties, the Monfragüe National Park or the Cornalvo Natural Park, where the composition of the business fabric is based on SMEs and micro-SMEs, many of them based on the natural resources available in the area, on agri-food activities or rural tourism, and which usually have fewer technical resources to face the environmental and economic challenges they face.

In this context, improving the capacities of companies in Extremadura to increase their competitiveness and the protection of the environment, are a boost for the sustainable economic development of Extremadura, especially in areas of high natural value, avoiding their depopulation and their conservation.

In addition to the collaboration of the FEC with the Superior Council of Chambers of Commerce (CSC), to provide a support service to all Spanish companies through the 88 existing chambers of commerce in our country, the project has the support of the Chambers of Commerce of the provinces of Cáceres and Badajoz, which will be one of the priority access mechanisms for the recipients of the planned activities.

The project contributes to:

• Develop tools and materials adapted to the reality of SMEs and micro-SMEs to carry out the inventory of _CO2 emissions and the implementation of measures to reduce them
• To train and help companies to face the problems and challenges posed by climate change
• Raise awareness among SMEs and micro-SMEs about the opportunities offered by a low-carbon economy for economic development that leads to social improvements, such as job creation, while promoting environmental protection
• To provide elements and tools for joint action on the economic and environmental aspects of the company, improving its competitiveness and thus increasing its capacity to generate employment and avoid environmental degradation
• Compliance with the reduction commitments acquired by the Spanish State by promoting the reduction of emissions in diffuse sectors (not obliged by the directive) and which in the Community of Extremadura are especially relevant since they represent 90.8% of its total emissions

Recipients:

A total of 2,310 recipients will benefit from the project activities.
Among the recipients, it should be noted that 38% will be located in rural areas, depopulated areas, protected areas and biosphere reserves and 3% will come from economic sectors linked to the environment.

Likewise, the project will pay special attention to targeting disadvantaged groups such as women, those over 45 years of age or the disabled, among others.

Duration: the project has a project execution period from July 1, 2013 to June 31, 2014.