Latest news with #GreenPulse
Straits Times
05-08-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
How to talk to a climate denialist
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. For many people, climate change is scary and the science behind its causes and impacts is bewildering. And with all the other bad news these days, sometimes the easiest thing is just to hope climate change will fade away. Add in a noisy minority who vehemently deny climate change is real, or even believe it's all a conspiracy, and it can be hard for people to know how best to respond or what's even real. In our latest Green Pulse episode, co-hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty speak with Adam Switzer, a Professor of Coastal Science at the Asian School of the Environment at the Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. He gives us some tips and tricks on how to speak to people about climate change, including amplifying the stories of hope, a focus on solutions as well as educating people about the clear trends that show climate change is real, such as data showing rising temperatures, sea levels and carbon emissions. But what happens when your own mother is a hardened denialist? Have a listen, and let us know what you think! Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 2:45 What does climate denialism mean to you? 5:55 How to help people who don't understand climate science and feel unable to respond? 10: 44 'We need to focus on solutions'. 12:10 What are top tips to help people sort out real science from cherry-picked, greenwashed science? 16:44 How to balance the bad news of climate change with the need for urgency? 23:17 Talk to people. It's not hard to find common ground on climate change, such as health and money. Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: Read her articles: Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: Read his articles: Hosts: Audrey Tan ( audreyt@ ) & David Fogarty ( dfogarty@ ) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: Feedback to: podcast@ SPH Awedio app: --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: Get more updates: The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: Google Play: ---
Straits Times
29-07-2025
- Straits Times
How can we cope with rising temperatures? Share your ideas at The Fashion Pulpit with ST Podcasts
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Titled 'Heat Stress & Us', the dialogue is part of The Straits Times' Green Pulse podcast. SINGAPORE - Temperatures are rising due to climate change, and the need to help people - especially those from vulnerable communities - cope with the heat is becoming more urgent. But with warm temperatures being something that many people living in tropical Singapore are already accustomed to, at what point does the heat become a public health risk? And how is Singapore taking steps to protect people with high exposure to heat, such as outdoor workers? Join us for a timely dialogue with experts on the issue at the fourth ST Podcasts Live event on Aug 12, which will be held at local swapping boutique The Fashion Pulpit in Jalan Besar. Titled 'Heat Stress & Us', the dialogue is part of The Straits Times' Green Pulse podcast, which provides a South-east Asian perspective on climate change and environmental issues. New episodes are aired every first and third Tuesday of the month. ST deputy foreign editor David Fogarty and assistant news editor Audrey Tan, who co-host Green Pulse, will be speaking with Associate Professor Jason Lee, director of the Heat Resilience and Performance Centre at the NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Terrorism threat in Singapore remains high, driven by events like Israeli-Palestinian conflict: ISD Singapore Online platforms have halved time it takes for Singaporeans to be self-radicalised: ISD Singapore 3 taken to hospital after fire breaks out in Toa Payoh flat Singapore ICA inspector obtained bribes in the form of sex acts from 6 foreign men in exchange for his help Singapore Doctor who forged certificates for aesthetic procedures gets 4 months' jail Life Alone but not lonely: Tips from seniors who live solo and like it Asia Extreme weather turns Beijing into rain trap; 30 killed, over 80,000 evacuated Prof Lee is also the lead principal investigator of Project HeatSafe, a research initiative that studies the threat that heat poses to human health, wellbeing, and productivity in South-east Asia. ST Podcasts Live on 12 Aug will address the pressing environmental issues of heat stress and human-wildlife conflict. PHOTO: THE STRAITS TIMES The dialogue will also involve Ms Jaime Lim, director of the major hazards and the occupational safety and health specialist departments at the Ministry of Manpower. The Manpower Ministry had in 2023 rolled out new measures that required employers to take steps to protect outdoor workers from heat. Employers, for example, had to provide hourly rest breaks for workers when it gets too hot . Following the discussion on heat, a second podcast recording will take place. The second dialogue will touch on the reasons behind the increasing encounters between humans and wildlife in urban Singapore, and how such interactions should be managed to reduce conflict. One of the recent cases of human-wildlife encounters involve long-tailed macaques spotted within a once-forested area in Punggol that is now a residential area. The Straits Times earlier reported that the authorities had received over 200 reports of these monkeys over a seven-month period. The animals were spotted rummaging through bins and breaking into homes in search of food. As Singapore embarks on greening initiatives to infuse the urban landscape with more vegetation, experts have warned that encounters between humans and wildlife will only increase. A key point of the discussions will be how Singapore can achieve better co-existence between humans and the native wildlife that call the country home. ST correspondents Shabana Begum and Ang Qing, who were the co-hosts of ST's award-winning experiential podcast series Green Trails , will helm the second discussion. They will host Mr Kalaivanan Balakrishnan, the co-chief executive of wildlife rescue group Animal Concerns Research & Education Society (Acres), and Ms Jasvic Lye, the campaign manager of Our Wild Neighbours, an initiative to educate the public on wildlife etiquette. Passionate about animal welfare, Mr Balakrishnan carried out Acres' first reptile repatriation in 2017 and was instrumental in ensuring that the wildlife rescue group continued to help animals during the Covid-19 pandemic. Ms Lye, a fine arts graduate, started her ongoing 'Death By Man' photo series in 2017 to shed light on the devastating effects of urbanisation on wildlife. Guests who sign up will be able to experience a live podcast recording session, and engage in a Q&A segment with panellists. Those interested can sign up at ST Podcasts Live is a series launched this year to commemorate The Straits Times' 180th anniversary. The first ST Podcasts Live, on the topic of historic buildings, took place on Feb 12 at The Foundry. This was followed by the second event on April 15 at The Projector, which discussed diverse definitions of success. In the third event on June 3 at Raffles Place Rasa, panellists spoke on how to build a fulfilling career. The live podcast on 12 Aug on environmental issues is the fourth in the series. ST Podcast Live at The Fashion Pulpit
Straits Times
15-07-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Can philanthropy revive a stalling environmental agenda in Asia?
Find out what's new on ST website and app. Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. The world is becoming an increasingly risky place as the impacts of climate change and nature loss worsen. And there's a growing need for more funding to limit the damage and improve the livelihoods of communities. But the problem is, funding from governments, especially aid money, is drying up in some places. The funding gap is huge but philanthropy is helping fill some of the void. Family offices, international foundations, wealthy individuals and more are stepping in and their money is vital in helping de-risk climate and nature investments to make them more palatable for private and government funders. Every dollar of philanthropic capital can mobilise $9 of additional funding. Together, the money can be directed towards vital areas, such as ocean health and coastal protection, sustainable land use, nature restoration and climate adaptation and much more. The end game is not band aid solutions, Shaun Seow, CEO of Philanthropy Asia Alliance, tells Audrey Tan and David Fogarty in this latest episode of Green Pulse. The end game is to de-risk and allow private capital to 'work its magic'. Have a listen, and let us know what you think! Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:20 How are philanthropies responding to the different environmental agendas, and funding gaps, of governments? 6:14 To what extent are philanthropies in Asia focusing on climate and catalytic funding? 12:42 How is PAA bringing together different funders? 18:54 What other areas can be a focus for philanthropies interested in Asia? 21:20 For catalytic capital, what are the key concerns for philanthropists in Asia? 25:15 As climate risks grow, are more foundations and wealthy individuals knocking on PAA's door? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: Read her articles: Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: Read his articles: Hosts: Audrey Tan ( audreyt@ ) & David Fogarty ( dfogarty@ ) Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: Feedback to: podcast@ --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: Get more updates: The Usual Place Podcast YouTube: --- Get The Straits Times app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store:
Business Standard
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
MSMEs make strong sustainability gains, but governance still not on the radar: SIDBI - D & B SPeX
PRNewswire Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], July 1: Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, along with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), has released the Sustainability Perception Index (SPeX), for January-March 2025 period. The SPeX, (also known as the 'Green Pulse Indicator') evaluates perception of sustainability of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across three dimensions: willingness, awareness, and implementation. The SPeX rose by 14.7% quarter-on-quarter to reach 69 in Q1 2025, marking its highest level in the past 10 quarters. All three dimensions--Awareness (+20%), Willingness (+17%), and Implementation (+2%) increased from Q4 2024, each reaching their highest levels in the last 10 quarters. Dr. Arun Singh, Global Chief Economist, Dun & Bradstreet, said, "MSMEs have made remarkable strides in their sustainability journey, with awareness, willingness and implementation reaching record highs in Q1 2025 since we started tracking in Q4 2022. From reducing emissions and energy use, to adopting sustainable packaging, these achievements underscore a growing commitment to environmental responsibility. However, our survey shows that compliance with social and governance standards has consistently remained a low priority for MSMEs through 2024 and into Q1 2025, with limited adoption of formal governance frameworks. As MSMEs express the intent to expand their governance efforts, this presents a timely opportunity to strengthen these initiatives. Measures such as simplified certification processes and improved access to technical expertise will be essential to support this shift. Strengthening these enablers is critical to unlocking the next phase of sustainable growth--resilient, future-ready, and aligned with global standards." Dr. Ravindra Kumar Singh, Chief General Manager, Green Climate Finance Vertical, SIDBI, stated, "Over past 10 quarters, SPeX has endeavored to capture the pulse of MSMEs' orientation and preparedness to go for sustainable investments. This helps in looking within and aligning green processes, products, and design to meet the expectations of the value chain. SIDBI - D & B Sustainability Perception Index Survey (which we term as 'Green Pulse') for the Quarter January - March 2025, has indicated significant enhancement in the SPeX score (from 60 in the QE December 2024 to 69 for the QE March 2025). This rise from 46 (1st edition) to the score of 69 now indicates that enterprises are becoming responsive and are aiming to adopt clean, green, environmentally friendly technologies while also becoming conscious of Environment & Social (E & S) factors. Continuous capacity building and embedded instruments are key to enabling MSMEs' transition to green practices. SIDBI has mainstreamed Climate Financing and is actively providing long-term financial solutions that enable MSMEs to adopt greener technologies. Each green loan passes through the filters of E & S, Green transitional framework, and green tech stack such that energy saving and/or GHG emissions reductions are tracked." Highlights of the SPeX Report: * In Q1 2025, the awareness dimension saw the most significant improvement across all areas--rising 24% from the previous quarter to reach 68, the highest level in the past ten quarters. This reflects the growing understanding of sustainability amongst MSMEs and its relevance to business, as evidenced by several encouraging trends: * MSMEs are increasingly recognizing the tangible benefits of sustainability, particularly in terms of profitability and cost reduction. Awareness that profitability can be achieved through sustainability initiatives surged from 43% in 2023 to 80% in 2024, and further to 89% in Q1 2025. Similarly, the share of MSMEs associating sustainability with cost savings rose from 44% in 2023 to 85% in Q1 2025--demonstrating a sharp shift in mindset from compliance to business advantage. * In Q1 2025 awareness of green financing remained relatively high at 53% well above the 37% recorded in mid-2024. Encouragingly, the share of MSMEs accessing green finance rose to 26% in Q1 2025--up from just 7% in Q4 2024. * At the same time, more MSMEs are tapping into government and institutional support, with adoption rising to 59% in Q1 2025, up from 36% in Q4 and 39% in Q3 of 2024. * MSMEs entered 2025 with renewed determination to embrace sustainability, as reflected in the 'willingness' dimension rising to a 10-quarter high of 69 in Q1 2025--up sharply from 59 in Q4 2024. This reflects growing momentum in embedding sustainable practices across operations. * At the heart of this commitment lies a steadfast focus on Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling initiatives, especially across waste, emissions, water, and energy. This area has topped MSMEs' agenda since 2023, with 82% identifying it as a priority in Q1 2025--up from 76% in 2024 and 51% in 2023. * Driving this transition is a simple business case: cost reduction continues to be the most influential factor in adopting sustainability measures. After topping the list in 2023 (81%) and dipping slightly in 2024 (63%), it surged again in Q1 2025, with 78% of MSMEs citing it as a primary motivator. * Yet, alongside this economic imperative, external forces such as regulations and incentives have gained significant traction. Regulatory influence has grown rapidly, with 80% of MSMEs citing it as a key factor in Q1 2025--up from 53% in 2023 and 59% in 2024. In parallel, the importance of incentives rose notably, becoming the third most influential factor at 63%, compared to just 40% in 2023. * Encouragingly, intent to build in-house expertise is also on the rise. By Q1 2025, 59% of MSMEs aimed to enhance their capabilities in implementing sustainable environmental practices, up from just 29% at the end of 2023. Similarly, 56% expressed intent to strengthen their supply chain sustainability expertise--an increase of 17% over Q4 2024---reflecting rising concerns about global trade disruptions. * In Q1 2025, the sustainability journey of MSMEs marked a significant milestone, with the implementation dimension reaching a ten-quarter high of 59--signalling strong momentum in translating sustainability commitments into action. * This progress is backed by a trend over the past two years, during which MSMEs have steadily reported reductions in the consumption or generation of water, waste, emissions, heat/energy, and raw materials. Many have also adopted more sustainable packaging solutions. * This positive trajectory continued into Q1 2025, where 68% of MSMEs reported lower emissions, 62% achieved reductions in heat and energy use--the highest level since Q1 2023--and 44% adopted sustainable packaging practices, a record since Q3 2024. These figures highlight growing adoption and deepening integration of environmental practices. * However, this progress has not come without challenges. Throughout 2023 and 2024, the cost of implementation and limited access to capital have remained persistent obstacles, and they continue to constrain MSMEs' ability to scale sustainability efforts in 2025. * More recently, new barriers have begun to surface. Technical know-how has become an increasingly pressing issue, with the proportion of MSMEs citing it as a challenge rising sharply from 46% in 2023 to 70% in Q1 2025. At the same time, concerns around environmental labelling and certification have doubled--from 31% to 60%--likely reflecting the mounting pressure on exporters to comply with rapidly evolving international standards. Methodology The SPeX value ranges from 0 to 100, an increase in the index value indicates MSME's enhanced perception towards sustainability. The overall SPeX value reflects changes across these three dimensions, providing insights into MSMEs understanding, willingness to adopt, and implementation of sustainability measures. An increase in SPeX indicates improvement in MSME's perception towards sustainability adoption. A decrease could indicate challenges or a decline in perception. About Dun & Bradstreet: Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, enables companies around the world to improve their business performance. Dun & Bradstreet's Data Cloud fuels solutions and delivers insights that empower customers to accelerate revenue, lower cost, mitigate risk and transform their businesses. Since 1841, companies of every size have relied on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity. For more information on Dun & Bradstreet, please visit Dun & Bradstreet Information Services India Private Limited is headquartered in Mumbai and provides clients with data-driven products and technology-driven platforms to help them take faster and more accurate decisions in domains of finance, risk, compliance, information technology and marketing. Working towards Government of India's vision of creating an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) by supporting the Make in India initiative, Dun & Bradstreet India has a special focus on helping entrepreneurs enhance their visibility, increase their credibility, expand access to global markets, and identify potential customers & suppliers, while managing risk and opportunity. India is also the home to Dun & Bradstreet Technology & Corporate Services LLP, which is the Global Capabilities Center (GCC) of Dun & Bradstreet supporting global technology delivery using cutting-edge technology. Located at Hyderabad, the GCC has a highly skilled workforce of over 500 employees, and focuses on enhanced productivity, economies of scale, consistent delivery processes and lower operating expenses. Visit for more information. Click here for all Dun & Bradstreet India press releases. About SIDBI: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) in its role as the Principal Development Finance Institution for MSME sector has played a significant role in developing the financial services for MSME sector through various interventions including Refinance to Banks, Credit Guarantee programs, Development of the MFI sector, Contribution to Venture capital/AIF funds, MSME ratings, promoting digital lending ecosystem, etc. The Bank has proactively been working toward Energy Efficiency (EE) in MSMEs since 2005-06 as part of Direct Finance business using support of multilaterals like World Bank, ADB, GiZ, FCDO, JICA, AFD, KfW etc. for energy efficient projects. SIDBI has taken steps to promote Energy Efficiency and Cleaner production in the MSME sector and propose to accelerate its efforts for MSME sector for their survival, growth, and competitiveness in long run during prevailing climate related challenges. Looking to importance of ESG aspects and the need for a simplified, Customised ESG risk rating framework, SIDBI has already started integration of ESG framework into its operations. Subsequent to setting up of Green Climate Finance Vertical for prioritised focus, a Board level Committee has been constituted for guidance, oversight, and monitoring on ESG, Green Strategy of the bank, including relevant SDGs etc. To lead with the example, SIDBI has set a target to become Carbon Neutral by 2024 and Net Neutral organization in subsequent years. Through Green Financing products and other developmental activities, SIDBI enables the manufacturers and service providers in MSME sector to adopt green energy efficient technologies helping in lesser waste leading to positive impact on environment and sustainability.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
01-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
MSMEs show strong sustainability gains but lag in governance: SPeX
Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, along with Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), has released the Sustainability Perception Index (SPeX), for January-March 2025 period. The SPeX, (also known as the 'Green Pulse Indicator') evaluates perception of sustainability of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across three dimensions: willingness, awareness, and implementation. The SPeX rose by 14.7 per cent quarter-on-quarter to reach 69 in Q1 2025, marking its highest level in the past 10 quarters. All three dimensionsAwareness (+20 per cent), Willingness (+17 per cent), and Implementation (+2 per cent) increased from Q4 2024, each reaching their highest levels in the last 10 quarters. Dr. Arun Singh, Global Chief Economist, Dun & Bradstreet, said, "MSMEs have made remarkable strides in their sustainability journey, with awareness, willingness and implementation reaching record highs in Q1 2025 since we started tracking in Q4 2022. From reducing emissions and energy use, to adopting sustainable packaging, these achievements underscore a growing commitment to environmental responsibility. However, our survey shows that compliance with social and governance standards has consistently remained a low priority for MSMEs through 2024 and into Q1 2025, with limited adoption of formal governance frameworks. As MSMEs express the intent to expand their governance efforts, this presents a timely opportunity to strengthen these initiatives. Measures such as simplified certification processes and improved access to technical expertise will be essential to support this shift. Strengthening these enablers is critical to unlocking the next phase of sustainable growthresilient, future-ready, and aligned with global standards." Dr. Ravindra Kumar Singh, Chief General Manager, Green Climate Finance Vertical, SIDBI, stated, "Over past 10 quarters, SPeX has endeavored to capture the pulse of MSMEs' orientation and preparedness to go for sustainable investments. This helps in looking within and aligning green processes, products, and design to meet the expectations of the value chain. SIDBI - D&B Sustainability Perception Index Survey (which we term as 'Green Pulse') for the Quarter January March 2025, has indicated significant enhancement in the SPeX score (from 60 in the QE December 2024 to 69 for the QE March 2025). This rise from 46 (1st edition) to the score of 69 now indicates that enterprises are becoming responsive and are aiming to adopt clean, green, environmentally friendly technologies while also becoming conscious of Environment & Social (E&S) factors. Continuous capacity building and embedded instruments are key to enabling MSMEs' transition to green practices. SIDBI has mainstreamed Climate Financing and is actively providing long-term financial solutions that enable MSMEs to adopt greener technologies. Each green loan passes through the filters of E&S, Green transitional framework, and green tech stack such that energy saving and/or GHG emissions reductions are tracked." Highlights of the SPeX Report: In Q1 2025, the awareness dimension saw the most significant improvement across all areasrising 24 per cent from the previous quarter to reach 68, the highest level in the past ten quarters. This reflects the growing understanding of sustainability amongst MSMEs and its relevance to business, as evidenced by several encouraging trends: MSMEs are increasingly recognizing the tangible benefits of sustainability, particularly in terms of profitability and cost reduction. Awareness that profitability can be achieved through sustainability initiatives surged from 43 per cent in 2023 to 80 per cent in 2024, and further to 89 per cent in Q1 2025. Similarly, the share of MSMEs associating sustainability with cost savings rose from 44 per cent in 2023 to 85 per cent in Q1 2025demonstrating a sharp shift in mindset from compliance to business advantage. In Q1 2025 awareness of green financing remained relatively high at 53 per cent well above the 37 per cent recorded in mid-2024. Encouragingly, the share of MSMEs accessing green finance rose to 26 per cent in Q1 2025up from just 7 per cent in Q4 2024. At the same time, more MSMEs are tapping into government and institutional support, with adoption rising to 59 per cent in Q1 2025, up from 36 per cent in Q4 and 39 per cent in Q3 of 2024. MSMEs entered 2025 with renewed determination to embrace sustainability, as reflected in the 'willingness' dimension rising to a 10-quarter high of 69 in Q1 2025up sharply from 59 in Q4 2024. This reflects growing momentum in embedding sustainable practices across operations. At the heart of this commitment lies a steadfast focus on Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling initiatives, especially across waste, emissions, water, and energy. This area has topped MSMEs' agenda since 2023, with 82 per cent identifying it as a priority in Q1 2025up from 76 per cent in 2024 and 51 per cent in 2023. Driving this transition is a simple business case: cost reduction continues to be the most influential factor in adopting sustainability measures. After topping the list in 2023 (81 per cent) and dipping slightly in 2024 (63 per cent), it surged again in Q1 2025, with 78 per cent of MSMEs citing it as a primary motivator. Yet, alongside this economic imperative, external forces such as regulations and incentives have gained significant traction. Regulatory influence has grown rapidly, with 80 per cent of MSMEs citing it as a key factor in Q1 2025up from 53 per cent in 2023 and 59 per cent in 2024. In parallel, the importance of incentives rose notably, becoming the third most influential factor at 63 per cent, compared to just 40 per cent in 2023. Encouragingly, intent to build in-house expertise is also on the rise. By Q1 2025, 59 per cent of MSMEs aimed to enhance their capabilities in implementing sustainable environmental practices, up from just 29 per cent at the end of 2023. Similarly, 56 per cent expressed intent to strengthen their supply chain sustainability expertisean increase of 17 per cent over Q4 2024-reflecting rising concerns about global trade disruptions. In Q1 2025, the sustainability journey of MSMEs marked a significant milestone, with the implementation dimension reaching a ten-quarter high of 59signalling strong momentum in translating sustainability commitments into action. This progress is backed by a trend over the past two years, during which MSMEs have steadily reported reductions in the consumption or generation of water, waste, emissions, heat/energy, and raw materials. Many have also adopted more sustainable packaging solutions. This positive trajectory continued into Q1 2025, where 68 per cent of MSMEs reported lower emissions, 62 per cent achieved reductions in heat and energy usethe highest level since Q1 2023and 44 per cent adopted sustainable packaging practices, a record since Q3 2024. These figures highlight growing adoption and deepening integration of environmental practices. However, this progress has not come without challenges. Throughout 2023 and 2024, the cost of implementation and limited access to capital have remained persistent obstacles, and they continue to constrain MSMEs' ability to scale sustainability efforts in 2025. More recently, new barriers have begun to surface. Technical know-how has become an increasingly pressing issue, with the proportion of MSMEs citing it as a challenge rising sharply from 46 per cent in 2023 to 70 per cent in Q1 2025. At the same time, concerns around environmental labelling and certification have doubledfrom 31 per cent to 60 per centlikely reflecting the mounting pressure on exporters to comply with rapidly evolving international standards. Methodology The SPeX value ranges from 0 to 100, an increase in the index value indicates MSME's enhanced perception towards sustainability. The overall SPeX value reflects changes across these three dimensions, providing insights into MSMEs understanding, willingness to adopt, and implementation of sustainability measures. An increase in SPeX indicates improvement in MSME's perception towards sustainability adoption. A decrease could indicate challenges or a decline in perception. About Dun & Bradstreet: Dun & Bradstreet, a leading global provider of business decisioning data and analytics, enables companies around the world to improve their business performance. Dun & Bradstreet's Data Cloud fuels solutions and delivers insights that empower customers to accelerate revenue, lower cost, mitigate risk and transform their businesses. Since 1841, companies of every size have relied on Dun & Bradstreet to help them manage risk and reveal opportunity. For more information on Dun & Bradstreet, please visit Dun & Bradstreet Information Services India Private Limited is headquartered in Mumbai and provides clients with data-driven products and technology-driven platforms to help them take faster and more accurate decisions in domains of finance, risk, compliance, information technology and marketing. Working towards Government of India's vision of creating an Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) by supporting the Make in India initiative, Dun & Bradstreet India has a special focus on helping entrepreneurs enhance their visibility, increase their credibility, expand access to global markets, and identify potential customers & suppliers, while managing risk and opportunity. India is also the home to Dun & Bradstreet Technology & Corporate Services LLP, which is the Global Capabilities Center (GCC) of Dun & Bradstreet supporting global technology delivery using cutting-edge technology. Located at Hyderabad, the GCC has a highly skilled workforce of over 500 employees, and focuses on enhanced productivity, economies of scale, consistent delivery processes and lower operating expenses. Visit for more information. Click here for all Dun & Bradstreet India press releases. About SIDBI: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) in its role as the Principal Development Finance Institution for MSME sector has played a significant role in developing the financial services for MSME sector through various interventions including Refinance to Banks, Credit Guarantee programs, Development of the MFI sector, Contribution to Venture capital/AIF funds, MSME ratings, promoting digital lending ecosystem, etc. The Bank has proactively been working toward Energy Efficiency (EE) in MSMEs since 2005-06 as part of Direct Finance business using support of multilaterals like World Bank, ADB, GiZ, FCDO, JICA, AFD, KfW etc. for energy efficient projects. SIDBI has taken steps to promote Energy Efficiency and Cleaner production in the MSME sector and propose to accelerate its efforts for MSME sector for their survival, growth, and competitiveness in long run during prevailing climate related challenges. Looking to importance of ESG aspects and the need for a simplified, Customised ESG risk rating framework, SIDBI has already started integration of ESG framework into its operations. Subsequent to setting up of Green Climate Finance Vertical for prioritised focus, a Board level Committee has been constituted for guidance, oversight, and monitoring on ESG, Green Strategy of the bank, including relevant SDGs etc. To lead with the example, SIDBI has set a target to become Carbon Neutral by 2024 and Net Neutral organization in subsequent years. Through Green Financing products and other developmental activities, SIDBI enables the manufacturers and service providers in MSME sector to adopt green energy efficient technologies helping in lesser waste leading to positive impact on environment and sustainability.
