A new international initiative is seeking to close the $4 trillion annual shortfall in sustainable finance for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a critical but underfunded sector representing over 90% of global businesses [1].

The SME Subgroup of the Impact Disclosure Taskforce (IDTSME), a non-profit initiative supported by Legacy Global, unveiled its Whitepaper “Scaling Private Company Impact Finance” at Climate Week NYC. The publication sets out practical frameworks to unlock SDG-aligned capital and strengthen the role of SMEs in global decarbonisation and impact finance [1].

Despite their centrality to economic growth and climate innovation, SMEs receive less than 10% of total climate finance flows, according to data from the OECD, IFC, and Climate Policy Initiative [1]. “The world cannot meet its climate and sustainability goals without unleashing the power of SMEs,” said Michele Bongiovanni, Founder and Co-Chair of the SME Subgroup and CEO of HealRWorld. “Our planet is on fire, literally and economically. Unlocking capital for sustainable SMEs is not optional, it’s urgent” [1].

The report arrives amid a sharp downturn in global impact investment, which fell by $33 billion (a 28% year-on-year decline) in 2024, widening the gap to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) [1]. To reverse this trend, the Taskforce proposes a data-driven approach featuring regional Impact Innovation Labs to incubate sustainable SMEs, AI-powered fintech tools to automate impact verification, and harmonised disclosure frameworks aligned with international sustainability standards [1].

Research cited in the Whitepaper from HealRWorld and Federated Hermes demonstrates that companies with strong ESG credentials consistently show tighter credit spreads and greater financial resilience, evidence that sustainability-linked SMEs can be both impactful and investable [1].

A key proof point highlighted is the Africa Impact Scale-Up Programme, led by Her Excellency Ramatoulaye Diallo NDIAYE, CEO of the Great Green Wall of Africa Foundation. The initiative aims to build localised financial inclusion infrastructure and SME-led innovation ecosystems across emerging markets [1].

“The goal is not charity, but empowerment,” said Matt Helgeson, Co-Chair of the SME Subgroup and former Fortune 500 Chief Sustainability Officer. “Empowering sustainable SMEs isn’t charity, it’s one of the most powerful economic and climate resilience strategies available” [1].

As regulators advance new disclosure standards such as the EU’s CSRD and the ISSB framework, the Taskforce’s roadmap positions SMEs as essential to achieving a fair and inclusive global transition. The message from Climate Week NYC was clear: a sustainable economy cannot be built without SMEs at its centre [1].

References
[1] ESG News. Global Taskforce Sets Out Plan to Help Bridge $4 Trillion Sustainability Finance Gap for SMEs. https://esgnews.com/global-taskforce-sets-out-plan-to-help-bridge-4-trillion-sustainability-finance-gap-for-smes/