Weathering the Storm – Climate Resilient Business

Speakers

• Anna Bright, CEO, SWM
• Alan Carr, Senior Sustainability Adviser, SWM
• Joshua Meek, Chief Impact Officer, Unity Trust Bank
• Victoria James, Head of Climate Action and Emergency Planning, London Borough of Sutton

The Event

The workshop, co-run by SWM and Unity Trust Bank, aimed to help businesses understand and prepare for the impacts of climate change. Key risks discussed included heatwaves, flooding, droughts, and storms. Participants explored how these risks affect infrastructure, productivity, and health, and the importance of linking both climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Following live polls during the session, 59% of attendees felt ‘somewhat confident’ in their organisation’s ability to adapt, while 29% were ‘somewhat concerned’. By the end of the session, 76% agreed with the statement that they would take at least one lesson from the workshop to embed into their own organisation and 84% said they would be interested in future similar workshops to support their organisation.

The workshop featured SWM’s Weathering the Storm guide, published in collaboration with the Environment Agency in 2022, designed to support SMEs to improve their resilience to climate change and other hazards.

Key takeaways from the breakout discussions

• Climate risk planning: One size does not fit all – businesses need tailored adaptation strategies.
• Start with quick wins: adapting to climate change is tricky, so start with some simple actions such as reviewing your business continuity plan.
• Working with your bank: Financial institutions can drive adaptation by encouraging climate risk assessments.
• Digital transformation offers resilience benefits but must also consider energy and emissions.
• Local Authorities are key partners in planning and funding adaptation.
• Nature-based solutions require strong evidence of avoided costs to attract investment