The Changing Climate: is your business resilient?

Workshop

Preparing your business for climate change
20 June 2012

How the climate is expected to change

UK businesses have been tested by extreme weather events over the last decade and similar events are expected more regularly due to our changing climate. The patterns we are seeing include:

• hotter, drier summers
• milder, wetter winters
• more intense rain
• sea level rises

Past experiences for businesses in Kent and the South East

• 54% of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in south east (62% in East Kent) experienced impacts from weather events over a 2 year study.
• In Kent alone, the Kent Climate Change Network’s 2011 study showed over £440million of weather related damage over the last 10 years.
• However, businesses across the county could also benefit from the impacts of climate change, and hotter, drier summers in particular. Tourism saw a 42.8% increase in the county in previous heat waves with people flocking to the coast

Why do small and medium businesses need to adapt?

• Mitigate risk: significantly reduce financial losses, damage to property and business interruption
• Legal compliance
• Improve credibility
• Identify the opportunities

What can businesses do?

Go through the is my business at risk from climate change checklist (Word, 334kb) to ensure your business is resilient to climate change. This process will:

1. Establish your current vulnerability
2. Identify your risks and opportunities
3. Create an action plan

Small and medium businesses in the South East can also get free advice and support from the South East Business Carbon Hub on adapting to climate change as well as reducing their own carbon emissions.

Other useful online checklists for business include:

• Business Resilience Health Check
• Sefton Council Business Climate Checklist

Top 5 tips for business

• Check whether you are in a Flood Risk Area
  • If you are at risk, read the guide from the Environment Agency: Would your business stay afloat?
• Create an emergency contact list
  • Include staff telephone numbers, vital suppliers/customers and emergency customers
• Keep business moving
  • Maintain arrangements to keep business as usual, consider remote email/offices/delivery alternatives/stock
• Review your insurance policy
  • Check that you are adequately covered – does your policy include business interruption, replacement for new and for flooding/heavy rain?
• People
  • Are staff at risk? Do they have adequate training, clothing, or workplace temperature controls
• Opportunities
  • Seize upon the opportunities that may arise

Webinar Slides

On 17 November 2011 we ran a one hour webinar for businesses showing how they can create their own business resilience action plan. View our presentation.