The urgency of addressing climate change and environmental degradation has elevated green finance as a cornerstone of sustainable development, particularly in emerging economies where vulnerability to climate shocks is acute. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are critical drivers of innovation, employment, and inclusive growth, yet they remain underfinanced and marginalized in sustainability transitions. This introductory chapter frames the volume Green Financing in Emerging Economies: Empowering Small Enterprises for Sustainable Growth by synthesizing insights from global scholarship and the contributed chapters. It highlights three imperatives motivating the book: the climate imperative to mitigate risks and build resilience, the financing gap that constrains SME participation, and the innovation opportunity offered by instruments such as green bonds, carbon markets, FinTech solutions, and Islamic green finance. Drawing on diverse case studies from Africa and beyond, the volume explores how policy frameworks, institutional arrangements, and grassroots initiatives shape access to and impact of green finance. It underscores the importance of aligning financial systems with the Sustainable Development Goals and fostering inclusive financial ecosystems. Ultimately, the book positions green finance as an environmental mechanism and a catalyst for empowering SMEs to drive climate-smart, resilient, and sustainable economic transformation.