From Climate Signals to “Green” Readiness for Action: Formation of Environmental Intentions in Russian Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises

Climate change poses a systemic threat to sustainable development, and engaging businesses in the climate agenda is essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Small- and medium-sized enterprises have limited resources and are largely exempt from mandatory climate regulation; therefore, the cognitive mechanisms of their owners are of particular importance. This is particularly relevant for Russia, where the rate of warming exceeds the global average, while carbon emission regulation remains in its early stages. This study examines how owners and top managers of Russian small- and medium-sized enterprises perceive, interpret, and translate climate signals into pro-environmental intentions. We applied a qualitative abductive approach based on the Gioia methodology and analyzed ten semi-structured interviews with owners and top managers of micro-, small, and medium-sized enterprises from various industries. The findings were validated through data triangulation using company websites, media publications, and corporate reports, as well as through independent coding. Four aggregate dimensions and two trajectories of intention formation were identified: a pragmatic (defensive) trajectory and a value-oriented (creative) trajectory. Signals are extracted according to an indicative hierarchy, and institutional voids act simultaneously as a barrier and a filter. Intentions emerge as a result of multi-level cognitive processing, in which the owner or top manager acts as the initiator, while the network provides support.