As someone who’s been working in climate risk and weather for over a decade, I’ve seen first-hand how important it is for businesses to prepare for the impacts of climate change. The 2025 report from the Climate Change Committee (CCC) is a timely reminder that change isn’t just on the horizon, it’s already affecting us.
Recent figures show that 6.3 million properties in England are currently at risk of flooding, and this could rise to 8 million by 2050. Last year, the UK experienced its wettest 18 months on record, which led to widespread disruption for businesses up and down the country. In 2022, we saw temperatures exceed 40°C for the first time, resulting in nearly 3,000 heat-related deaths and a significant increase in wildfires.
The CCC report highlights that over a third of our transport network is already at risk from flooding, and this could increase to half by 2050. These aren’t just statistics-they represent real risks to our infrastructure, our supply chains, and our day-to-day operations.
What does this mean for businesses? Quite simply, climate risk is business risk. Already, nearly half of UK businesses have experienced disruption from extreme weather. The CCC warns that if we don’t act, the UK’s economic output could fall by up to 7% by 2050 due to climate impacts, and the NGFS argue that it could actually be sooner, with projections of 6-12% of GDP lost by 2030.
The message is clear: every business needs to carry out a climate risk assessment. This isn’t just about compliance or reputation-it’s about resilience and long-term success. Here are a few practical steps I recommend:
- Understand your risks: Identify where your operations, assets, and supply chains are most vulnerable to climate impacts like flooding, heatwaves, or drought.
- Plan and adapt: Develop strategies to manage and reduce these risks, such as improving flood defences, updating business continuity plans, or diversifying suppliers.
- Engage your stakeholders: Investors, insurers, and customers increasingly expect businesses to demonstrate how they’re preparing for climate risks.
All figures from the Climate Change Committee’s 2025 Progress in Adapting to Climate Change report.