About Us

Climate Smart Businesses Inc. is a Vancouver, British Columbia-based social enterprise that was launched by Ecotrust Canada, an enterprising nonprofit whose purpose is to build the conservation economy.

Climate Smart grew out of the recognition that the engines of our local economies - small and medium-sized enterprises - have been largely overlooked in the development of policies and tools to address climate change. We believe that this creative and innovative sector can play an important role in finding ways to do business differently and to help move us toward a prosperous, low carbon future.

Climate Smart first took shape as a pilot program launched in 2007 by Ecotrust Canada to work with ten BC businesses and organizations, and take them through the process of measuring their greenhouse gas emissions, setting reduction targets, and better understanding the carbon offset market. With financial support from foundations and corporations, technical support from the Pembina Institute and assistance from the David Suzuki Foundation, we tested the viability of a service that lowered the financial and technical barriers for small and medium sized enterprises to take action on climate change.

Building on the success of the pilot, in 2008 we further proved out the concept, delivering six training programs and training more than 75 enterprises. In 2008 we also found an outstanding technology partner in CRedit 360, a respected provider of sustainability data systems for large organizations, and together developed a very user-friendly, yet comprehensive, web-based GHG management tool.

Incorporated in early spring 2009, Climate Smart has now trained more than 190 enterprises, engaged with twenty host partners, delivered our first training program outside of Canada (in Portland, OR), and has a growing network of trainers ready to lead Climate Smart training program in different locations in North America and beyond.