Catalysing Corporate Climate Resilience Action – Making the Business Case

Hosted by: World Economic Forum, Resilience First, UN Climate Change High-Level Champions, Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), the World Climate Foundation, WSP and PwC

No matter how emission reduction trends evolve over the next years the world has already warmed by an average of 1.2 degrees C above pre-industrial levels. Climate change is here. Given that emission reduction trends are currently not on track to limit temperature rises to 1.5 or even 2 degrees, climate change is likely to get significantly worse. While we must urgently accelerate emissions reduction to meet the 1.5-degree target, climate impacts are being felt now and we must also focus on adaptation.

According to the IPCC’s latest Synthesis report, while climate change mitigation and emissions reduction activities have had positive impacts adaptation gaps continue to grow. Of particular note is that the private sector is not prioritising resilience building or adapting at the speed and scale necessary to mitigate or avoid catastrophic outcomes. While 32% (US$15.5 billion) of all private finance mobilised by official development interventions between 2018 and 2020 targeted climate-related issues, only 4% ($1.8 billion) was earmarked exclusively for adaptation.  

This must change. How can businesses create a climate strategy that addresses both mitigation and adaptation, and considers both the risks and opportunities therein, relevant to their operations and activities?

Join our roundtable where we will explore the case for climate adaptation and resilience; adapting corporate strategy to climate risk and impacts and the key steps to embed resilience into operations, activities, and outcomes. This discussion is being held within the context of the Sharm el-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda adopted by the COP presidency as a framework for action, and builds upon the World Economic Forum’s January 2023 White Paper ‘Accelerating Business Action for Climate Change Adaptation’ and C2ES’s 2022 Emerging Blueprint for Companies to Advance Local Climate Resilience.

Confirmed Speakers: 

• Razan Al Mubarak, UN Climate Change High-Level Champion for COP28
• Sagarika Chatterjee, Finance Director, Climate Champions Team
• Emma Cox, Global Climate Leader and Partner, PwC
• Peter Hall, Vice President, Global Director – Climate Resilience & ESG, WSP
• Gonzalo Muñoz, UN Climate change High-Level Champion for COP25 and Race to Resilience Global Ambassador
• Eric White, Head of Climate Adaptation, World Economic Forum

Moderated by Seth Schultz, CEO, Resilience Rising with special remarks from Feike Sijbesma, CEO, Royal DSM and Race to Resilience Global Ambassador.

Please note that this in-person event is exclusively for senior sustainability and strategy executives.