Far from being a threat, the low-carbon economy could provide small and medium-sized companies with new business opportunities. Larger companies have already begun to adapt to this new economy, and the global market for climate-change related products and services is now worth over $530 billion, larger than the defence and aerospace industries combined.

To make sure these organisations are in a position to take maximum advantage, Tomorrow’s Company is developing a leader’s Business Guide to the Low-Carbon Economy, as part of the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills’ (BIS) Low Carbon Strategy, and would like your help in making it happen.

Tomorrow’s Company is producing the guide in partnership with HSBC, the Esmee Fairbairn Foundation, Ogilvy & Mather and Halcrow. The world is undergoing massive economic, social and environmental transformations but evidence suggests that companies are not adapting effectively and becoming as sustainable as they could be. The majority of companies are not sufficiently aware of the roles these changes are playing in the evolving nature of business.

This guide, aimed particularly at small to medium companies, strives to help businesses understand what this low-carbon economy means for them, how they can make the low-carbon transition and take advantages of the new opportunities this brings, and where they can go for further assistance.

The guide, which  will be available to download free in January 2010, will advise companies how to reduce costs, improve efficiency and take advantages of new opportunities, aimed at creating resilience to facing future threats such as rising energy prices, new regulations and changing consumer demand. With the leader’s Business Guide to the Low-Carbon Economy, companies can adapt more effectively so that they can survive and thrive in these challenging times.