The effects of climate change are becoming increasingly evident in Central Europe as well and have long since ceased to affect only individual industries. Companies face a wide range of challenges: from protecting their employees on hot days to adapting buildings and infrastructure, and safeguarding supply chains and business models against climate-related disruptions.
In the Mission Expert Talk, we will address the following questions:
What economic risks does climate change entail?
Climate-related damage and disruptions affect companies not only directly on-site but also indirectly through international supply and value chains. As a result, cross-border risks are increasingly coming into focus alongside local impacts.
How can companies respond to this?
Proactive adaptation measures that look beyond their own locations are needed. These include strategic preparedness, more resilient infrastructure, and a more conscious approach to dependencies within global production networks.
What opportunities arise from the adaptation process?
Climate change adaptation is not only associated with costs and investments. It can also foster innovation, open up new business areas, and position companies to be more resilient and future-oriented in the long term.
Insights from Academia and Practice
- Associate Professor Birgit Bednar-Friedl from the Institute of Economics and the Wegener Center for Climate and Global Change at the University of Graz will open the discussion with insights into the global economic interdependence of local companies. She highlights the potential consequences of events such as floods or severe droughts in Southeast Asia for production and value creation in Europe, and explains why climate change adaptation must be considered beyond one’s own location.
- Dr. Linda Hölscher from adelphi research then turns her attention to Germany, where adaptation to climate change is also enshrined in law. She will examine how political frameworks influence business operations and why the necessary investments not only pose a challenge but also open up potential for innovation and new business areas.
Together with our experts, we will discuss how a better understanding of local and cross-border climate risks opens up new avenues for action and can help make companies more resilient and future-oriented.
Please note: The expert talk will not be recorded. Event language: German