How can businesses realise greater climate adaptation?

The impacts of the climate crisis are becoming more intense and frequent. With this, it is absolutely vital we manage the risks and comprehend the opportunities that can arise from doing so as part of a comprehensive business sustainability strategy. Mitigation has remained a key focus for businesses to tackle climate change, however, it is equally as important to plan for climate adaptation. 

In saying that, this remains a challenging area for businesses as they do not know where to start. Continue reading to learn about the importance of climate adaptation and the areas you should focus on to drive greater adaptation. 

The importance of climate adaptation for businesses

Climate change is already impacting businesses across the globe, and these impacts will likely increase in severity. While many businesses focus on climate mitigation, it is just as important to focus on climate change adaptation. Adaptation is vital to protecting the well-being of millions of species and people. 

It will help us secure economic opportunities, create wider environmental and social benefits, and of course, prevent future losses. Adapting can also offer us a safety net as we work to reduce the potential damage of climate change. The more successful we are at adapting to the climate crisis, the lower the impacts on Earth will be. 

Ultimately, it will help us prepare for the changing conditions that are ever-challenging to predict. Adapting to climate change is not giving up; it means taking action to prepare for the future. Global emissions are still on the rise and even with our commitments and mitigation efforts, we must supplement with adaptation planning. 

What should businesses focus on to drive their climate adaptation strategy? 

It’s clear that climate change adaptation is a business imperative. It’ll help us avoid economic losses that result from a warming climate. Not just that, but adaptation will allow us to innovate new ways to ensure cost savings, revenue growth, and sustainability. Finally, it will protect local ecosystems, and communities businesses operate within. 

However, it can be challenging for businesses to determine which areas they should focus on to drive their climate adaptation strategy and efforts. Businesses creating their climate adaptation strategy should focus on three primary pillars. These include improving resilience to the impacts of climate change. In other words, you should assess the impacts climate risks pose on your business.

From there, you must act to adapt and build resilience. You can do this by joining forces with your local community and suppliers connected to your value chain. This will help to improve your organisation’s resilience. Additionally, you should focus on shaping collaborative outcomes. What we mean by this is participating in multi-stakeholder efforts, which encourage climate change adaptation action but also deliver projects that can help the ecosystem and community build resilience, too. As a final step, you should be looking to capitalise on opportunities. 

In other words, leverage services, products, and business models to assist communities, businesses, and ecosystems with adapting and building resilience. Simultaneously, you should be pursuing your own adaptation opportunities that can contribute to climate change mitigation, sustainability, and improved efficiency. Focusing on these three areas will help you drive greater climate adaptation in your adaptation strategy. 

Summary

It is imperative that businesses take climate action. While mitigation efforts are very much needed, it is also essential that organisations focus on adaptation to transform climate risks into competitive advantages. Businesses can benefit massively by taking action to recognise and anticipate climate-related risks and also support their local communities and ecosystems.