Business not as usual: the impact of climate
change
Saskia van Pelt, Business Developer, Weather Impact B.V.
Photography by Thibaud Furst
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True or false?
Without the human race, greenhouse gases would not exist
FALSE: Natural processes like photosynthesis and
respiration exchange greenhouse gases. Without
greenhouse gases life on earth would not be possible.
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More or less?
The global GDP exposed to river flooding
each year is more than $10 Billion
TRUE: River flooding costs $96 Billion each year. With
Bangladesh ranking no. 1 with over $5 Billion at risk.
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True of false?
The hot European summer of 2003 can be attributed to climate
change
FALSE: It is not possible to attribute a single event to
climate change. We can say that this type of event will
be more common in the future due to climate change.
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Weather already affects business
Weather influences:
• Productivity
• Customer demand
• Property damage
• Operational costs
• Supply interruptions
• Staff safety
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“Climate is what you expect – weather is
what you get”
R.A. Heinlen 1973
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Global warming in 40 seconds
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Global warming
It is already happening
IPCC AR5 WG1
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Global warming
Changing city climates
Stockholm
Copenhagen
London
Oslo
Paris
Lisbon
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Barcelona
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Global warming
Future impacts - extremes
theguardian.com
IPCC –AR5 – WG1
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Global warming
Future impacts extremes
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Global warming
Impacts all
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Looking into the future
Is your business sensitive to climate change?
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Looking into the future
How does climate change influence your bottom line?
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Finance
& Assets
Markets
Logistics
Rules &
Regulations
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Risk & Opportunities
Climate change
Potential
impacts on:
• Reputational risk
• Environmental risk
• Finance & assets
• Operational risk
• Logistics
• Financial risk
• Markets
• Health & safety risk
• Rules &
regulations
• Strategic risk
• Production opportunity
• Market opportunity
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The business case for adaptation
Maximizing profits, managing risks and making the most of
strategic opportunities
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Becoming a well adapted business
Existing decision points present opportunities
• Identify upcoming weather sensitive initiatives
• Renewal and maintenance = climate risk
• Mainstream adaptation
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Becoming a well adapted business
Building resilience to current weather variability
Nasa.gov
October 10th
October 5th
Resilience
(Protection)
RISK
Hazard
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Exposure
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Becoming a well adapted business
Building resilience to current weather variability
!
Alarmlevel high
Short term intense rainfall
expected on the 10th of
October
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Becoming a well adapted business
Building resilience to current weather variability
Nasa.gov
October 5th
October 10th
Recommendations:
72h: clean gutters
48h: put emergency plan in action
12h: place sand bags
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Becoming a well adapted business
Building adaptive capacity
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Identify knowledge & resources
Build support systems & legislative frameworks
Develop flexible adaptation strategies
Combine technical, strategic and internal solutions
Use long term planning horizons
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Thank you
Saskia van Pelt
[email protected]
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