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Climate change and business survival

Anglia Ruskin University's Global Sustainability Institute and Mott MacDonald have published a report making clear that building climate resilience is essential to future business survival - and that doing so will also bring commercial opportunity. The report entitled 'Climate change and business survival', projects that within 20 years US$200bn of investment each year will be needed globally to combat US$1trn of losses from climate impacts. A third of this is likely to offer strong returns on investment. The balance will need more innovative public-private finance. Investing in improved protection and better emergency planning will enable businesses to cut potential losses by half, and the most resilient organisations will be able to rebound swiftly from climate impacts, out competing less resilient rivals. However, the report also highlights a looming US$130bn per annum global funding gap. This represents resilience and adaptation measures to protect against social and environmental losses. Tackling them will offer only a marginal direct business benefit, but is essential for business continuity as climate change worsens.

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