Adaptation Futures 2016: adelphi discusses adaptation strategies for the private sector

Small and medium-sized enterprises face particular challenges in adapting to climate change. adelphi will present specific approaches to private sector adaptation and discuss these with practitioners and scientists at an event being held as part of Adaptation Futures 2016.

Despite efforts to reduce greenhouse gases, the effects of climate change will be felt ever more strongly in the future. Globally, many governments have thus begun to develop adaptation strategies.

Climate change adaptation is also playing a significant role in business, especially for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME). For these businesses, it is a matter of survival to be able to anticipate changes to markets and production conditions, to adapt their core activities to them, and to determine new business opportunities. The private sector can make a significant contribution to sustainable societal development through sustainable growth. In this light, it becomes clear that the private sector must play a pro-active role in adapting to climate change.  

How can small and medium-sized enterprises adapt to climate change?

To discuss this question, adelphi is holding a session, together with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) and the INCAE Business School (Costa Rica), at Adaptation Futures 2016 in Rotterdam. With over 1.700 participants from over 100 countries, Adaptation Futures is the world’s largest expert conference on climate change adaptation.

Climate change adaptation and SMEs – case studies from several parts of the world and different sectors
Wednesday, 11th May 2016
3:45 PM – 5:30 PM, Penn Room I
Postillion Convention Centre WTC Rotterdam

The goal of this international event is to give practitioners and scientists an overview of how SMEs can be supported in their climate change adaptation efforts. During the session, adelphi will introduce the "Climate Expert", a tool for increasing adaptation capacities in the private sector, developed and tested in the framework of the GIZ project "Private Sector Adaptation to Climate Change" (PSACC). This interactive online tool supports enterprises in analysing climate change risks and developing individualised climate change adaptation strategies.

During the subsequent interactive discussion, insights will be given into practical experiences with climate change adaptation from various countries including Bangladesh, Costa Rica, Morocco, and Rwanda. Participants will discuss various approaches to climate risk management in the private sector and possible new business possibilities for SMEs resulting from climate change.

For further information on the session, visit the Adaptation Futures 2016 website.