Climate change awareness and mitigation practices in small and medium-sized enterprises: Evidence from Swiss firms

Anita Fuchs, Preeya Mohan*, Eric Strobl

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to investigate climate change awareness and mitigation effort and their associated motivating and limiting factors to pro-environmental behavior and firm demographics in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Switzerland. For this purpose, a questionnaire was developed, conducted, and analyzed on motivating and limiting factors along with firm demographics, using descriptive statistics and ordinary least squares (OLS) and ordered probit regression models. The results show that Swiss SMEs are in general aware of climate change and their resulting consequences. SMEs have taken steps to help mitigate greenhouse gas emissions through recycling, reduction of energy and water consumption, and use of recycled packaging. SMEs could however improve their environmental impact through low-carbon means of transport and use of public transport, sustainable raw material inputs, sustainable energy sources, and setting environmental goals and audits. There was a positive association between climate change awareness and mitigation. Motivating factors to pro-environmental behavior included financial advantage and responsibility towards the environment, while firm size and human resources were limiting factors. Lastly, different mitigation measures might be influenced by different motivating and limiting factors including financial advantage and pressure from interest groups, as well as firm size.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)169-191
Number of pages23
JournalBusiness and Society Review
Volume128
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 21 Feb 2023

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2023 Albert P. Viragh Institute for Ethics in Business at Duquesne University.

Keywords

  • climate change
  • climate change mitigation
  • greenhouse gas emissions
  • small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Business and International Management
  • Industrial relations
  • Sociology and Political Science
  • Strategy and Management

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