SMEs are responsible for approximately half of the UK’s business-related greenhouse gas emissions, yet they face persistent and well-documented barriers to decarbonisation.

This report investigates the rapidly evolving landscape of private, public, and non-profit sector support for SME decarbonisation, with a particular focus on the role of government in catalysing and shaping this transition. It addresses the question: How can – and should – government work alongside the private sector to accelerate SME decarbonisation?

This report was created by the University of Bath, in partnership with the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and funded by Research England.