My sustainable business

The changing climate and increasing frequency of extreme weather events can have detrimental impacts on business and supply chains. There are practical steps you can take to mitigate the risks and take advantage of the opportunities.

Practical things your business can do

• Surrey Local Resilience Forum’s risk register is available on the Surrey County Council website and it will help you understand what a risk register requires. 
• Read our Business Continuity Management pages to identify the risks and opportunities
• Consider insurance, supply chain resilience, water audits and water efficiency measures.
• Urban greening and raingardens create shade and cooling (while also supporting biodiversity), reducing temperatures within buildings and built-up environments. See nature-based solutions with Surrey Wildlife Trusts professional services and tree planting opportunities. 

Potential risks and impacts

• Increased frequency and severity of flooding, causing damage to property and infrastructure affecting business continuity.
• Overheating of buildings and thermal comfort affecting staff productivity.
• Displacement of businesses due to flood water ingress and subsequent damage and repair costs.
• Disruption to transport caused by extreme weather with subsequent impacts on business travel and supply chains.

Opportunities

• There is the risk of extreme weather causing damage to assets and business interruption. You can build resilience into property using measures such as sustainable drainage systems, raingardens and diversifying supplies. See our Climate Change and Sustainable Construction Supplementary Planning Document (SPD).
• Technology development to secure markets, products and services. Digital connectivity to support business continuity. Will help prepare for disruption of local infrastructure affecting supplies and workforce.
• To mitigate the risk of rising insurance costs, business can support the local community through adaptation and climate friendly projects.
• Forward planning and building resilience to supplies e.g. rainwater harvesting and water storage, will help sector specific businesses e.g. one that relies on water during the summer.