The Growing Reality of Climate Change and Why Adaptation Must Become a Core Business Strategy

Storm Bram has been sweeping across Ireland with force, bringing heavy winds, intense rainfall and widespread disruption. Events like this are no longer isolated moments. They are becoming more frequent, more severe and more disruptive. Across the world, we have seen the same pattern unfold through heatwaves, droughts, flooding, wildfires and coastal impacts in regions that once felt largely protected.

As I reflect on this storm and the growing pattern of climate related events in recent years, I am reminded of something we sometimes avoid acknowledging. Climate change is not a distant threat. It is not an abstract risk. It is here now and we are already living in the reality it has created.

This is not new information. Scientists have been telling us for decades that the planet would warm and that weather patterns would intensify as a result. But the pace and scale of what we are witnessing makes one point very clear.

Mitigation alone will not be enough. Reducing emissions is critical and must remain at the centre of our collective climate effort. But the world has already warmed by more than one point five degrees. Even with significant cuts, more warming is already locked in. This means the physical impacts of climate change will continue to grow in frequency and severity.

This is where adaptation comes in and why it deserves far more attention than it often receives.

Mitigation and Adaptation: Two Pillars of Climate Action

Climate mitigation is about reducing the emissions that cause climate change. Adaptation is about preparing for the impacts that are already happening and those that are yet to come.

For years, most of the global effort has focused on mitigation. And for good reason. Without a rapid reduction in global emissions, the physical risks of climate change will intensify dramatically.

But mitigation alone cannot protect communities, economies and businesses from the impacts we are experiencing today. Adaptation is the companion piece that ensures resilience. Adaptation includes measures such as:

• Strengthening infrastructure
• Improving flood defences
• Protecting water systems
• Diversifying supply chains
• Strengthening building design
• Enhancing emergency planning
• Restoring ecosystems to buffer extreme events

These efforts are often seen as government responsibilities. But they are increasingly becoming business responsibilities too.

Why Businesses Need to Take Climate Adaptation Seriously

It is becoming increasingly clear that companies of all sizes need to understand climate adaptation as a core part of long term resilience. This is not simply about crisis response. It is about future proofing.

For small and medium sized enterprises, the impacts of climate events can be uniquely challenging. SMEs often have fewer buffers, smaller cash reserves and more concentrated operations. A severe weather event can disrupt supply chains, damage assets, impact staff availability, or suddenly halt operations.

Adaptation matters because it helps businesses prepare, absorb and recover from climate events with far greater confidence. Some of the questions companies should begin considering include:

• How could extreme weather affect our operations?
• Are our supply chains exposed to climate related disruption?
• Are our premises or facilities vulnerable to wind, flooding or heat?
• Do we have business continuity plans that consider climate impacts?
• Are our employees supported and protected during severe events?
• What insurance and risk management measures are in place?
• How could we build greater flexibility and resilience?

Thinking about adaptation in this way is not about fear. It is about readiness. Storm Bram is only one example, but it represents something bigger. It shows us that Ireland is not immune to the escalating effects of global warming. We will likely see more intense storms, more rainfall events, and more disruption of this nature in the years to come.

This is the moment when companies should pause and ask whether they are prepared for what the next decade may bring. This includes organisations that are early in their sustainability journey and those that are already progressing toward net-zero.

Adaptation is not separate from sustainability. It is a central part of it.

How Climate Standards Are Reinforcing the Importance of Adaptation

Many of the frameworks shaping corporate climate reporting now recognise that resilience and adaptation are essential.

• The TCFD places strong emphasis on climate risk assessment and resilience planning
• The ISSB climate standard requires disclosure of physical climate risks and adaptation measures
• CSRD expects companies to report on both transition risk and physical risk
• Net-zero frameworks such as SBTI acknowledge that mitigation alone is not sufficient and that resilience will be integral to long term planning

Adaptation is no longer an optional chapter in a sustainability strategy. It is a requirement for credible disclosure and responsible governance.

What This Means for Irish SMEs and Organisations Across Europe

While large corporations may have dedicated climate risk teams, SMEs often do not. Yet the impacts of storms, floods and extreme weather do not discriminate by company size. If anything, SMEs can feel the impacts more acutely. A good starting point for any business is to carry out a simple climate risk assessment. This includes:

• Understanding exposure to extreme weather
• Identifying vulnerabilities in supply chains
• Reviewing asset and building resilience
• Assessing how operations could be disrupted
• Identifying measures to strengthen resilience over time

Companies do not need to solve everything at once. What matters is beginning the conversation. Resilience is built step by step

Storm Bram is a reminder that we are living through a period of environmental change that cannot be ignored. The climate is shifting around us and our systems, businesses and communities must adapt accordingly. Mitigation remains essential. We must continue to reduce emissions and work toward a decarbonised economy. But we must also recognise that physical climate impacts will continue to intensify. Adaptation is not a distraction from net-zero. It is a necessary partner.

For businesses, this is a moment to pause and consider how prepared we really are. Climate resilience is becoming a central part of good governance, risk management and long term sustainability.

If your organisation is beginning to explore climate adaptation or wants to understand its exposure to climate related risks, reach out and let’s discuss ways I can help you navigate this space.