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How can business adapt to climate change? - 1 of 4by By Julia Hertin and Frans Berkhout
| Climate change is now recognised by most people to be a reality. Adapting to it, particularly for businesses, throws up many challenges. But a single approach will not be right for everybody. | Flooded roads, blocked railway lines and devastated homes - the severe flooding last autumn in Britain and other European countries reminded us how vulnerable modern society can be to extreme weather. A recent authoritative report by the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) confirms that these kinds of weather events are likely to occur more frequently in the future. 1 Unlike other countries, for example small islands states and those in low-lying coastal areas, Britain will not have to fear for its survival. But if we want to minimise economic costs and personal suffering, our society has to learn how to adapt to a changing climate. ...if we want to minimise economic costs and personal suffering, our society has to learn how to adapt to a changing climate.
The call for adaptation does not imply that we should accept global warming and just learn to live with it. For our own good, as well as for the sake of other countries and future generations more exposed to climatic risks, greenhouse gas emissions have to be reduced. But adaptation is vital because current and past emissions (mainly stemming from the burning of fossil fuels) seem to make some climate change unavoidable. A new research project within the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research aims to understand, measure and enhance the capacity of businesses to adapt to global warming. Next | |
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