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ClimateNE & Climate Change Schools Project support the move to a low-carbon, resilient economy and help businesses avoid risk and realise commercial opportunities. Posts by Jen Atkinson, Krista McKinzey and Harriet Thew » Posted by Jen
An interesting question ClimateNE often faces is: what are the impacts of climate change likely to be for North East businesses?
This has always been a fairly complex question to answer as the evidence has often been located in disparate pieces of research that perhaps have focused on specific sectors or geographic areas.
However, we can now shed some light on this much-asked question...
...with the recently released report - Summary of Climate Change Risks for North East England.
This piece of useful, and really interesting, work coincided with the publication of the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 2012. It provides a concise overview on the impacts - and the opportunities - of climate change that businesses here in North East England are likely to face.
Drawing on the national findings of the Climate Change Risk Assessment, and backed up with evidence from across North East England, the report found that one of the main threats to business is likely to be flooding associated with intense rainfall. This will have significant implications for business transport, staff availability, increased damage to commercial property and business continuity.
One of the North East business examples included in the report details how a Newcastle-based Quayside bar has been struck by numerous flood events since 2010. Read the full case study (pages 23 and 24).
The floods here were caused by a combination of factors including high tide levels in combination with melt water from heavy snowfall and rain. Tidal 'lock out' also prevented the drainage system from working properly.
It's this kind of event that can cause severe disruption to a business - even closure in some cases - and significant costs are rarely escaped. But there are some incredibly simple, yet effective, measures that can be taken to minimise damage and business disruption.
The report also highlights opportunities that may be presented by climate change. This includes the development of new adaptation products and services which could present commercial opportunities for business.
It's well worth a look and you can download it here.
The report also documents the key risks for: health and wellbeing; buildings and infrastructure; agriculture and forestry; and the natural environment but you'll find the business section on pages 6 and 7.
To identify if your business is at risk from the various impacts of climate change, and how to build resilience, visit the ClimateNE Business Hub www.climatenortheast.com/businesshub. It's a specialised website for businesses in North East England and also includes a host of information on ways to save money, by reducing emissions or improving energy efficiency for example, and develop commercial opportunities and find sources of funding.
If you would like to find out more, or have any questions, drop me an email at Jennifer.atkinson@northeastcouncils.gov.uk
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