By Jo Holmes, Genee
Sustainability conversations have often focused on how businesses affect the environment. Increasingly, organisations also need to consider how a changing environment affects their business. Both perspectives matter, and both require action.
From Storm Arwen’s widespread power outages to increasingly intense rainfall affecting transport networks, businesses across the North East have already experienced how extreme weather can disrupt day-to-day operations. What were once considered exceptional events are becoming increasingly common, creating new risks for organisations of every size and sector.
Climate change is a business issue
Hotter temperatures can affect employee wellbeing, particularly for those working outdoors, in manufacturing settings, warehouses or older buildings with limited ventilation. Travel disruption can impact commuting and supply chains. Equipment may perform less efficiently during periods of sustained heat, while water shortages and flooding can create operational challenges that many organisations have never previously considered.
Staff productivity, comfort and concentration are all influenced by workplace conditions, while customers and stakeholders increasingly expect businesses to demonstrate how they are managing climate-related risks.
Adaptation is therefore not simply about responding to individual weather events; it is about creating organisations that can continue to thrive despite increasing uncertainty.
Looking beyond net zero
Many businesses have made significant progress in understanding and reducing their carbon footprints. Yet adaptation often remains overlooked.
There is no route to a resilient future without both mitigation and adaptation. We must continue to reduce emissions at pace to limit the severity of climate change, while also preparing for the impacts that are already being felt today.
Forward-thinking organisations are now asking important questions:
Which of our operations are most vulnerable to extreme weather?
Are our buildings and infrastructure fit for future conditions?
How resilient are our supply chains?
Do our employees have the support they need during periods of extreme heat or severe weather?
Answering these questions helps move sustainability from a standalone initiative to an integral part of organisational resilience.
Planning ahead
Simple measures can have significant benefits, from improving shading and ventilation within buildings to reviewing maintenance schedules, introducing sustainable drainage solutions or considering alternative working patterns during periods of extreme heat.
Supply chain resilience also deserves greater attention. Organisations are increasingly dependent on complex networks of suppliers, many of whom may face their own climate challenges. Understanding vulnerabilities and maintaining strong communication with partners will become increasingly important.
The businesses that succeed in the future are unlikely to be those that simply react to disruption. They will be the organisations that anticipate change and prepare for it.
Understanding what matters most
Every organisation faces different environmental impacts, risks and opportunities. The key is understanding what matters most to your organisation and developing a structured plan for improvement, and the Investors in the Environment (iiE) programme can support you to do that.
iiE recognises that organisations are at different stages of their sustainability journey and offers a practical framework for continual improvement rather than expecting perfection from day one. The programme takes a holistic approach, examining not only resource use and operational performance, but also policies, leadership, culture, staff engagement and communication.
Through independent audits and detailed feedback, organisations gain a clearer understanding of both their environmental impacts and the risks that may affect future resilience. This enables businesses to prioritise actions, develop meaningful improvement plans and embed sustainability into everyday decision-making.
Importantly, the process helps organisations move beyond isolated projects and create longterm strategies that support both mitigation and adaptation objectives.
The businesses that invest in resilience today will be the ones best placed to succeed tomorrow. To discuss how we can support your organisation on your sustainability journey, get in touch at jo@genee.org.uk