Adaptation: Business opportunities and responsibilities

Summary

In recent years the world has seen impacts of climate change rapidly intensify with more severe, frequent and unpredictable extreme weather events, as well as sea rise level that threatens communities and countries all over the world. The private sector has in many ways taken a leading role in mitigation efforts, but a similar business-led movement on adaptation is still to be developed. This seminar will explore responsibilities and opportunities for businesses in climate change adaptation.

• What are the concrete adaptation needs for countries already severely affected by climate change (with concrete examples such as food production, infrastructure, etc)?
• The UN General Assembly declared this summer that a healthy environment is a human right –what are the implications for adaptation and businesses?
• What is the current status of adaptation issues in international climate negotiations and policy?
• Why do businesses need to care about adaptation?
• Best practices and case studies from businesses
• Financing and risk mitigation –what opportunities and solutions exist, and what is needed to attract private capital?

This event is sponsored by the Global Challenges Foundation and will take place on Saturday 12th November 9:00-10:40 CET (GMT+1) at the Business Sweden Pavilion in the Blue Zone.

Speakers

This event will include the following participants:

• HE Shauna Aminath, Maldives Minister of Environment, Climate Change & Technology
• Victor Bernard, Program Officer at Raoul Wallenberg Institute of Human Rights and Humanitarian law, RWI
• Arunabha Ghosh, CEO and founder of the Council on Energy, Environment and Water, CEEW
• Eija Hietavuo, Global Head of Corporate Affairs at Tetra Pak
• Richard Klein, Team Leader International Climate Risk and Adaptation, Senior Research Fellow, Stockholm Environment Institute, SEI
• Jimena Leiva Roesch, Director of Global Initiatives and Head of Peace, Climate, and Sustainable Development, International Peace Institute, IPI
• Jan Svärd, CEO, EasyMining part of Ragn Sells Group
• Eric Usher, Head of the UN Environment Programme Finance Initiative, UNEP FI