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Climate change is one of the most significant environmental threats facing the world today. The impacts of climate change have the potential to affect the way we live and do business.

Despite global efforts to reduce the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere, some changes in climate are now inevitable.  This means we need to adapt our buildings, services and infrastructure to guarantee business as usual. 

Understanding the changes expected and adapting accordingly will help your business protect itself and its long-term productivity.

‘Although the impacts of climate change are uncertain, they can be managed like any other business risk’. UK Climate Impact Profile (UKCLIP)

For more information on the science of climate change, visit our climate change webpage.

What changes are expected? 

The UK is likely to experience warmer and wetter winters, hotter and drier summers, and more extreme weather events (UKCP09).

UK Climate Projections (UKCP09) provides detailed information on how the UK’s climate is likely to change in the 21st century. 

How can a changing climate affect my business?

1. More extreme weather events (storms, floods, heat waves) may cause:

  • Damage to or closure of buildings and infrastructure
  • Disruption to business delivery through staff being unable to get to work or the inability to deliver products due to road/transport closures
  • Increased costs due to emergency planning, if adaptation actions have not been taken
  • Increased insurance premiums

Solutions:

  • Do a risk assessment to understand your business’s vulnerability to extreme weather events
  • Prepare an emergency contingency plan
  • Develop procedures that allow staff to work from home if an event occurs. 

2. Higher summer temperatures may cause:

  • Decreased productivity of staff if the building cannot cope with increased temperatures
  • Health hazards for those working outside
  • Increased energy bills through increased demand for air-conditioning
  • Environmental health issues, such as spoilage of food, pollution and pests 

Solutions:

  1. Retrofit buildings to minimise heat from the sun, for example, by installing blinds or solar film to windows
  2. Plant trees and vegetation where possible to provide shade and cool the air
  3. Develop procedures for staff working outdoors

3. Less summer rainfall may cause:

  • Increased water bills if irrigation needed
  • Damage to building foundations and infrastructure through reduction in soil moisture
  • Deteriorated open spaces

Solutions:

  1. Install rainwater tanks to take pressure off main water supplies
  2. Plant drought-tolerant plants
  3. Assess building foundations

4. Less winter rainfall may cause:

  • Damage to property and assets through flooding
  • Disruption to business delivery through staff being unable to get to work or an inability to deliver products due to road/transport closures
  • Environmental health issues due to an increase in pests
  • Limited options for working outdoors

Solutions:

  1. Sign up to flood alerts (call 08 459 881 188)
  2. Improve site drainage (clear any blocked drains)
  3. Develop contingency plans for alternative working spaces
  4. Provide outdoor staff with adequate clothing and equipment

Opportunities

Adapting to the impacts of climate change can provide additional benefits for your business, such as:

  • An opportunity to develop new products and expand into a new market
  • An increased demand for services in some sectors, such as building modification, ventilation and cooling systems
  • An increase in outdoor activities may increase the tourism trade

Why act now?

Research suggests that taking steps to adapt now will save you money.
Understanding the impact of weather events on your business helps you prepare and continue productivity. Resilience to climate changes may even give you an advantage over those who have not adapted.

‘The cost of inaction today (in terms of both mitigation and adaptation) could be up to 20% of global GDP each year by 2050.’
Lord Stern, The Stern Report on The Economics of Climate Change.

Some questions to help you get started 

  • Do you know what weather events your business is vulnerable to?
  • Do you have a business continuity plan in place in the event of an extreme weather event? (for example, do you have a contingency plan if your building is flooded or you cannot deliver your product or service because of heavy snowfall?)
  • Can you retrofit your buildings to avoid overheating and the use of air-conditioning?
  • Are you planning to develop new buildings or services? If so, have you considered future climate projections in your design stage?
  • Is your business in a flood prone area? If so, sign up for free flood alerts by calling 0845 988 1188.

Useful tools

The following tools help you understand what the impact may be on your business and what you can do:

For more information, please visit the UK Climate Impacts Programme website or the Business link website.

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