Breeze partners with the University of British Columbia to provide education and resources to students on climate-focused ESG reporting and analysis through the SME Climate Clinic.
We're excited to announce our collaboration with the Centre for Climate and Business Solutions at the UBC Sauder School of Business on their new initiative, the SME Climate Clinic. This partnership provides education and resources to students enrolled in COMM 486E - Climate-Focused ESG Reporting and Analysis, and working in the SME Climate Clinic.
This collaboration aims to equip students with the practical skills and critical thinking needed to address climate change effectively. By providing hands-on experience and a realistic perspective, we empower students to become agents of change, capable of making a tangible difference in their communities and beyond.
This collaboration is important for several reasons:
The SME Climate Clinic is the first of its kind in Canada to address the intention-action gap in emission reduction. This lab emphasizes building climate knowledge, offering intensive capacity training for students, and championing greener, more inclusive growth. Bringing together students, faculty, and SMEs equips the next generation with skills and prioritizes supporting resource-strapped companies. These SMEs form the backbone of the economy and are increasingly being asked by their customers to provide emissions reports. However, many SMEs are short-staffed, unsure where to begin, and lack necessary resources as more businesses adopt net-zero carbon targets. Guiding these SMEs in their efforts to reduce emissions further strengthens a more inclusive, vibrant, and sustainable economic landscape, ensuring that all sectors of the economy are prepared to tackle the challenges of climate change.
Like law or tax clinics, the SME Climate Clinic offers a way for resource-strapped small and medium-sized companies to partner with students and participate in the net-zero economy. The program teaches students how to quantify and reduce an organization's carbon footprint by pairing them with an SME. Students work with the SME on measuring, analyzing, and reporting key ESG metrics and then implement ways to improve these outcomes.
Participating SMEs better understand their climate impact, risks, and strategies to navigate within a net-zero economy landscape. This engagement equips them with tools for sustainable practices and positions them to influence a greener future significantly.
Through the course and the clinic, SMEs engage directly with professors and students to assess their scope 1, 2, and 3 greenhouse gas emissions. Students collaborate with actual clients to create sustainability strategies, build internal capabilities, and establish procedures for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions.
To learn more about the SME Climate Clinic, click here.
“Breeze is a user-friendly, transparent software that allows students and SMEs to get the benefits of using technology - in the form of automation, data visualizations, and dashboards - without losing the visibility into the back-end of their carbon accounting calculations. In that way, Breeze enhances their learning.”
Caren Lombard, Course Instructor
As part of our collaboration, Breeze Carbon Accounting Software provides students with access to our industry-leading GHG accounting platform. This platform enables students to accurately and efficiently measure and report on their clients' GHG emissions.
In addition, Breeze provides educational resources to students, including webinars, tutorials, and case studies. These resources help students learn about the importance of climate and ESG reporting, and how to effectively communicate their sustainability performance to stakeholders.