The process of monitoring carbon emissions is harder for businesses, and it becomes even more difficult for small and medium-sized enterprises, but Swedish Google-backed startup, Normative has come forward with technology to help SMEs track their emissions by introducing a free version of emissions tracker.

Normative's introduction of its carbon emissions tracker helps small businesses get a basic understanding of their emissions. It is the first step to putting together a climate plan.

Normative co-founder and CEO Kristian Rönn said: "We want to make measuring carbon emissions and joining the race to net zero accessible to everyone. This new tool is our second step towards engaging value chains across the world, and we will continue to develop and push our technology to help businesses take climate action.”

Small and medium-sized business organisations play a significant role in fighting climate change. They help cut down global emissions by 2030 and reach net-zero emissions by 2050. These goals would facilitate limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius.

According to the World Bank, small and medium-sized businesses make up to 90 per cent of all enterprises and create half of the jobs globally.

Tech giants such as Amazon and Google have their technological solutions for curbing the climate crisis, but small and medium enterprises have a tough time tracking and mitigating their carbon footprint because carbon accounting is incredibly complex, particularly once you get into emissions tied to the supply chain.

A recent study conducted by the SME Climate Hub says small to medium-sized businesses have started tracking their emissions and developed plans to reduce their carbon footprint. Most small business owners said they are worried since they lack the skills, funding, knowledge, and time to fight the climate crisis. But now, Normative's tools will provide small businesses with resources once only available to tech giants.

Rönn said, "We know that it’s especially challenging for small businesses to understand, measure and report emissions — that’s why we wanted to create a tool that would make it easier for everyone to participate in the race to zero."

The tracking solutions will help them stand one step ahead, but they should also have credible plans that include interim targets and accountability to stay on track.