Navigating climate change: Climate change awareness and strategies in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in a developing economy

PLOS One | https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327165 July 2, 2025 14 / 26 a sector-wide acknowledgment of the inherent complexities in attaining carbon neutrality in the short term. This alignment within the secondary sector could point to common strategic planning practices aimed at balancing operational feasibility with long-term sustainability goals. Table 5. Carbon Neutral: Strategic Timing. Panel A. All sample (N = 1,453) Strategic Timing SE SBO MSMEs Grand Total Period less than or equal to 5 years 27.56 32.10 38.48 33.72 From 6 to 10 years 11.81 19.60 21.60 19.00 11 to 20 years 8.27 4.32 4.72 5.16 More than 20 years 3.15 3.24 2.00 2.75 Not in the company’s interest 19.69 15.43 13.97 15.62 Do not see it feasible 18.11 14.81 8.71 13.08 Don’t know 11.42 10.49 10.53 10.67 Grand Total 100 100 100 100 Panel B. Primary sector (N = 89) Strategic Timing SE SBO MSMEs Grand Total Period less than or equal to 5 years 50.00 40.00 56.86 50.56 From 6 to 10 years 25.00 30.00 9.80 17.98 11 to 20 years 0.00 3.33 7.84 5.62 More than 20 years 0.00 3.33 1.96 2.25 Not in the company’s interest 0.00 10.00 3.92 5.62 Do not see it feasible 25.00 6.67 9.80 10.11 Don’t know 0.00 6.67 9.80 7.87 Grand Total 100 100 100 100 Panel C. Secondary sector (N = 430) Strategic Timing SE SBO MSMEs Grand Total Period less than or equal to 5 years 22.22 29.41 29.91 29.07 From 6 to 10 years 8.33 18.82 25.89 21.63 11 to 20 years 11.11 4.12 4.46 4.88 More than 20 years 8.33 2.94 3.57 3.72

Not in the company’s interest 22.22 15.29 14.29 15.35 Do not see it feasible 11.11 18.24 12.05 14.42 Don’t know 16.67 11.18 9.82 10.93 Grand Total 100 100 100 100 Panel D. Tertiary sector (N = 934) Strategic Timing SE SBO MSMEs Grand Total Period less than or equal to 5 years 27.62 32.59 42.03 34.26 From 6 to 10 years 11.90 19.20 20.29 17.88 11 to 20 years 8.10 4.46 4.35 5.25 More than 20 years 2.38 3.35 0.72 2.36 Not in the company’s interest 20.00 15.85 15.58 16.70 Do not see it feasible 19.05 14.06 5.80 12.74 Don’t know 10.95 10.49 11.23 10.81 Grand Total 100 100 100 100 Note. Values in percentages. SBO = Small Business Owners; SE = Self-Employed; MSMEs = Micro, Small, and Medium-sized Enterprises. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0327165.t005