Building Climate Resilience Strategies: edie 25 Workshop Round-Up
edie 25 united businesses and sustainability leaders for two immersive days of strategy, implementation and collaboration to achieve the transformations required.
edie 25 was all about real action, fresh ideas, and connecting with sustainability and Net Zero leaders from across industries, all focused on creating a better future and advancing sustainability journeys.
George Richards helped to facilitate a workshop focused on building climate resilience strategies. The following is a summary of key insights and discussions from the event.
As the realities of the climate crisis become ever more visible, from extreme weather events to prolonged droughts and supply chain shocks, organisations are finding themselves at a crossroads. While many businesses are advancing bold ESG and Net Zero commitments, a crucial dimension that still remains underdeveloped, but is becoming more important, is climate resilience.
For years, our focus has been on reducing our environmental impact, striving for Net Zero, and limiting global temperature rise to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.
However, in 2024, that threshold was exceeded. Even if we halted global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions today, temperatures would continue to rise for decades. Given our repeated failure to meet climate targets at successive COP summits and shifting political priorities, particularly in the U.S., the likelihood of immediate drastic action is slim.
With the 1.5°C target surpassed, whilst we must continue to minimise our impacts on the environment, we must shift our attention to understanding and mitigating climate risks. Those organisations that embrace climate resilience will be best positioned for the future.
The "Building Climate Resilience Strategies" workshop convened thought leaders and industry practitioners to unpack how businesses can move beyond risk mitigation and begin proactively building resilience into their operations, cultures, and long-term strategies. The discussion brought to light both pressing challenges and promising opportunities that will shape corporate climate resilience in the years ahead.
Climate adaptation: A strategic imperative
Climate adaptation refers to the actions organisations take to better cope with the physical, operational, and reputational risks exacerbated by climate change. From property damage to power outages and supply chain disruption, the risks are no longer hypothetical. According to a recent Marsh survey, half of all businesses say they are already feeling the impacts of climate change – a stark indicator of the urgency at hand.
Key challenges identified in building resilience
Several recurring themes emerged from the workshop discussions:
1. The ongoing push for Net Zero
Net Zero still remains a core focus, especially for large corporates. Stakeholder engagement, varying levels of internal knowledge, and limited resources continue to stall progress. While businesses will continue to push toward Net Zero, it is clear this alone will not prevent the inevitable consequences of climate change. It’s imperative that Net Zero goals are pushed over the line to allow businesses to focus on building climate resilience strategies into their long-term strategies.
2. A narrow view of risk
While some industries have made strides – for example, airports addressing flood risks or defence organisations preparing for extreme weather – the focus tends to remain on immediate and visible threats. Deeper, less obvious vulnerabilities, such as those hidden within global supply chains, are often overlooked.
3. Resource scarcity and knowledge gaps
Organisations are often stretched thin, lacking the internal capacity or technical knowledge to develop robust climate resilience plans. In many cases, climate risk is still seen as a side conversation, rather than a strategic pillar.
Opportunities for proactive leadership
Despite these hurdles, the workshop surfaced several high-impact opportunities:
1. Engaging the C-Suite by speaking their language
A key strategy for moving the needle on resilience is translating climate risks into relatable language for the board. Financial directors respond to value-at-risk metrics, while operational leaders are more attuned to disruptions in the supply chain. This tailored approach to education and engagement helps bring decision-makers on board and aligns climate action with core business priorities.
2. Integrating resilience into business models
Some sectors are already embracing climate resilience as a competitive advantage. For instance, automotive manufacturers that have already faced major supplier disruptions are now embedding resilience strategies directly into their operations, rather than treating them as an afterthought.
3. Taking a holistic view of risk
Participants emphasised the need for comprehensive, structured risk assessments. Whilst it is important that we all continue minimising our impacts upon the environment, it is critical that we also understand the risks and opportunities that Climate Change impacts will increasingly have upon the entire value chain. Companies that take a holistic view of climate change risk will be better positioned to thrive in an increasingly volatile climate landscape.
The path forward
The consensus from the workshop was clear: organisations must evolve from reactive to proactive when it comes to climate resilience. This means investing in education, engaging key stakeholders, and embedding resilience into every layer of strategic planning.
By moving beyond short-term fixes and embracing a long-term, integrated approach, businesses can not only protect their operations but also unlock new value and demonstrate leadership in an era of growing climate uncertainty.
Climate resilience is no longer optional – it’s a strategic imperative. The organisations that act now will be the ones best equipped to navigate tomorrow’s challenges.
Ready to take action?
Here are the crucial next steps:
- Identify critical risks: Determine the climate-related threats most relevant to your organisation. Start with those that could disrupt operations tomorrow.
- Quantify risks: Assign a monetary value to each risk and prioritise them based on materiality and immediacy.
- Assess "Value at Risk": Evaluate potential costs under different warming scenarios (1.5°C, 2°C, or 3°C) over 5, 10, 15, and 20 years. There are tools are available to provide real-time climate data for all assets and locations in one streamlined system – get in touch to hear about the tool we would recommend.
- Develop a tailored mitigation plan: Climate resilience strategies will vary across industries. Some examples:
– A paper-based business might explore sustainable timber sourcing or invest in alternative materials.
– A commercial laundry company in a flood-prone region may need to relocate high-risk sites.
– A restaurant chain might reassess ingredient sourcing and adapt menus to reflect future supply constraints.
Building climate resilience isn't just about managing risk, it's about ensuring long-term business continuity and creating opportunities in a rapidly changing world.
JRP Solutions have a powerful tool for calculating the risks to your business from climate change, and we're well equipped to help you develop a tailored resilience strategy. From identifying vulnerabilities to implementing practical solutions, we’ll work with you to future-proof your operations and stay ahead of the curve.
Get in touch with us today to start building your climate resilience strategy.
You can book a no-obligation consultation here.