Acclimatise / Consulting / Who we've worked for

National Round Table on the Environment and the Economy (NRTEE, Canada). Development of case studies profiling private sector adaptation (2011)
The NRTEE wished to develop case studies that profile businesses undertaking a range of actions to increase climate resilience and extract lessons for business decision-makers and policy-makers. This forms part of the NRTEE's Climate Prosperity research initiative which aims to understand and advise governments on the economic risks and opportunities of climate change for Canada. For more informatino see http://nrtee-trnee.ca/climate/climate-prosperity.

Acclimatise Delivered a set of 13 case studies hightlighting examples of corporate adaptation, such as assessing vulnerability and risk of critical infrastructure, making new facilities climate-resilient, addressing risks and management measures in Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs), amending corporate policies, using financial risk management mechanisms, and identifying opportunities.

Through these case studies, the NRTEE can offer useful insights that businesses can take up and apply to their own situation, and contribute to a better understanding of Canadian government actions to facilitate corporate action to manage the risks and maximise the opportunities that a changing climate presents. Development of the case studies was very interactive, with Acclimatise stadd involved in interviews with a wide range of private sector organisations. Thirteen companies were interviewed, including Coca-Cola Ltd, Rio Tinto Alcan, Royal Bank of Canada and Munich Re.

Defra. UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (UK CCRA) (2010 – ongoing)
As part of the Climate Change Act, the UK Government is committed to carry out an assessment of the risks to the UK of climate change every five years. In recognition of our expertise in assessing the risks of climate change across a range of business and industrial sectors, Acclimatise was asked to become ‘Sector Champions’, leading the assessment of the current and projected climate change risks and opportunities for the UK’s Business, Industry and Services Sector for the CCRA. The project involves Acclimatise drawing on existing literature and, in consultation with a number of key stakeholders, rating the risks and opportunities presented by the effects of climate change. Our assessment addressed the following sub-sectors, as illustrative examples to highlight the range of climate-related issues and challenges the sector as a whole faces: financial services; tourism; food and beverage manufacturing; primary extractives (oil, gas and mining); and chemical manufacturing. The findings of this work have informed the national risk assessment, which will be published in January 2012, and will help to inform Government policy on climate change adaptation for the business, industry and services sector. This is the largest and most detailed risk assessment of its type in the world, and is being monitored carefully by other countries in the EU and further afield.

Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre and CARICOM. Development of an Implementation Plan for the Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change (2010 – ongoing)
The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member states are working towards the successful deployment of the ‘Regional Framework for Achieving Development Resilient to Climate Change’, that was approved by the Heads of Government in 2009. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC) has been asked by CARICOM to develop the Implementation Plan for the framework. With the help of funding from the Climate Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) and DFID Caribbean, the CCCCC has enlisted the services of Acclimatise to help construct an effective Implementation Plan. The Plan will detail how the regional framework is to be implemented across different sectors. It is focussed on delivering transformational change to build resilience to the adverse affects of climate change on the most at risk sectors: energy, agriculture, fisheries and food security, water resources, tourism, coastal and marine resources and human health; and to create low carbon economies. The plan emphasises the need for partnership building between governments, regional organisations, the private sector, civil society, international donors and IFIs to ensure that transformational change can be achieved. The Implementation Plan is due to be finalised and presented to the Heads of Government of each of the 15 CARICOM member states in July 2011.

International Finance Corporation (IFC). Climate change risk assessment and management for IFC investments (2007 – 2010)
Acclimatise worked with the IFC and Synergy, to undertake three studies that assess the risks and opportunities posed by climate change for the operational/engineering, environmental, social and financial performance of IFC investments in Ghana, Nepal and Pakistan. The case studies focused on energy infrastructure, agribusiness and pulp and paper. Quantitative and qualitative assessments of climate change risks were undertaken and potential adaptation options were appraised. The studies investigated the costs and benefits of adaptation measures, and evaluated the approaches to adaptation decision-making that are robust to uncertainties. They also identified gaps and barriers to private-sector climate risk management, and opportunities for partnership working on adaptation with other actors (governments, the scientific community and other stakeholders). The case studies also aimed to build capacity among IFC clients to address climate change risks, through the provision of training and tools. IFC intends to internalise the lessons learned from the project into its investment and appraisal process.

The IFC ‘Climate Risk and Business’ report is available to download here

UK Environment Agency. Translating UKCP09 into policy and practice (2008 – 2011)
As part of a consortium, Acclimatise undertook a major project for the UK’s Environment Agency, translating the UKCP09 climate change projections – the most advanced, probabilistic climate information available globally – into guidance, information and data to inform the Agency’s climate change adaptation planning. The project will help Environment Agency staff to use the UKCP09 data appropriately and to support better decision-making on climate change risks and uncertainties. A key output from the project is an interactive User Guidance targeted at the needs of the user base. The Guidance is designed specifically to give users the confidence to use UKCP09 products, with sign-posting of good practice and inappropriate uses of the projections. The project also includes six pilot studies, demonstrating the application of the projections to Environment Agency decision making across six areas of environmental management. Outputs from the project were disseminated through training seminars, workshops and webinars.

International Finance Corporation (IFC). Climate Risk and Financial Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities (2009 – 2010)
Interest in managing climate risks is growing rapidly in the financial services sector. Yet, although climate change and its impacts are recognised as one of the biggest challenges of our time, many investors do not routinely take the risks into account in their operations. Acclimatise worked with IFC to produce a comprehensive report which documents potential risks to the performance of financial institutions. The analysis sets out the credit, financial, strategic, legal and operational implications for investors if climate change risks are ignored. The report also provides additional evidence on five climatically sensitive sectors, agribusiness, water, power generation, transport, and oil, gas and mining.

The IFC ‘Climate Risk and Financial Institutions: Challenges and Opportunities’ full report is available to download from here and the Executive summary is available to download here

World Bank. Adapting vulnerable energy infrastructure to climate change, Albania and Uzbekistan (2009 – 2010)
Acclimatise, working with the engineering company WorleyParsons, and experts in Albania and Uzbekistan, has worked with the World Bank to deliver climate vulnerability and adaptation assessments for the energy sector in Albania and Uzbekistan. It is intended that the assessments will help the governments of Albania and Uzbekistan to integrate climate risks and adaptation into energy sector policy-making and planning. The work in Uzbekistan is still underway, as the final report has not yet been agreed by the Government of Uzbekistan. Along with desk-based research, analysis and modelling, the project involved working in partnership with energy sector stakeholders from Government ministries and agencies, utilities and corporations, private companies, expert consultants, university academics and NGOs, as well as energy sector experts from the World Bank and other international organisations. This was achieved through facilitated workshops and meetings in-country. Based on this experience, Acclimatise developed an operational toolkit, ‘HEAT’ (Hands-on Energy Adaptation Toolkit) demonstrating how the assessment process can be applied in other countries. The approach used and results are being disseminated by the World Bank in the Europe and Central Asia (ESA) region and worldwide.

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Addressing climate risk and adaptation to climate change in EBRD’s project cycle management (2009 – 2010)
Acclimatise, working with the engineering company SKM, was commissioned by EBRD to develop guidance and practical tools for integrating climate change risks and adaptation into EBRD’s project cycle management, so that investments can be made climate change resilient where appropriate. As part of project, twelve case studies of EBRD investments were analysed across the EBRD region from Russia to Southeast Europe, the South Caucasus and Central Asia, covering municipal infrastructure, agribusiness, natural resources, energy, property and tourism. Guidance was produced on mainstreaming Climate Change Risk Assessment into feasibility studies, environmental and social impact assessments (ESIAs) and water audits. In addition, a risk screening tool was developed, to enable EBRD staff rapidly to identify priority risk areas for investment projects.

Defence Estates (MoD). Developing a Climate Impacts Risk Assessment Methodology (CIRAM) (2009 – 2010)
In 2009, Acclimatise was commissioned by Defence Estates to develop a methodology to enable the Ministry of Defence (MOD) to assess and manage the risks from current and future climate to the operation, management and future development of its establishments in the UK.

• The project included four pilot studies that looked at the impacts of climate change in different areas of the UK.
• An MOD-specific risk identification and scoring methodology was developed (Climate Impact Risk Assessment Methodology).
• Site specific risk management measures were also identified in each case.
• Through undertaking these pilot studies, the methodology was refined and adapted to MOD’s own risk assessment and management processes.
• The Climate Impact Risk Assessment Methodology is being implemented across priority MOD establishments.

The Ministry of Defence’s Climate Change Action plan, including details of how CIRAM is being used to help adapt existing estate, is available to download here

City of London Corporation. Developing a climate adaptation strategy and adaptation action plans for the City of London (2007 – 2009)
The City of London Corporation (the local authority for the City’s financial district, the ‘Square Mile’) wanted to ensure that its services and infrastructure continue to function appropriately in the face of climate change, so that the City continues to thrive. Acclimatise was appointed by the City of London Corporation to develop an action-oriented climate adaptation strategy – the first for a UK local authority. Acclimatise used the UKCIP risk-based decision-making framework to identify the key climate risks and opportunities for the services and infrastructure managed by the City of London. Working closely with the Corporation’s staff through facilitated workshops and meetings, Acclimatise developed an adaptation strategy and actions required to address climate risks and take advantage of opportunities. In 2009, the City of London Corporation commissioned Acclimatise to develop a series of thematic action plans, which provide the mechanisms for the Corporation to manage and monitor its progress in implementing adaptation actions. The City of London Corporation was awarded Beacon Status by the Improvement and Development Agency (IDeA) for its efforts in tackling climate change. The judges reported that they were particularly impressed by the City's pioneering climate change adaptation strategy.

The City of London’s Climate Change Adaptation Strategy is available to download here

Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) and IBM. Building Business Resilience to Inevitable Climate Change: The Adaptation Challenge (2009)
Acclimatise prepared a series of four reports, sponsored by IBM, using information from the 2008 Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) information requests covering: FTSE350, global oil and gas companies, global energy companies and global mining and metals companies. These reports explore the business implications of inevitable climate change supported by evidence-based analysis using a unique methodology, the Acclimatise IndexTM, to highlight actions being taken by companies to assess and manage the impacts of a changing climate. They also provide senior executive level guidance on the actions they should consider to adapt and build business resilience to these impacts.
The Carbon Disclosure Project represents the world’s largest institutional investor collaboration on the business implications of climate change. The CDP process involves institutional investors who collectively sign a global request for disclosure of information on greenhouse gas emissions from the largest companies globally.

• The CDP Building Business Resilience to Inevitable Climate Change: FTSE350 is available to download here
• The CDP Building Business Resilience to Inevitable Climate Change: Global Oil and Gas is available to download here
• The CDP Building Business Resilience to Inevitable Climate Change: Global Electric Utilities is available to download here
• The CDP Building Business Resilience to Inevitable Climate Change: Global Mining is available to download here

This series of CDP reports followed on from the report prepared by Acclimatise and UKCIP titled ‘The Adaptation tipping point: are UK Businesses Climate Proof?’, which is available to download here

Universities Superannuation Scheme, Hendersons Global Investors, Railpen Investments, Insight Investment. Climate change and shareholder value: the adaptation imperative (2009)
Acclimatise was commissioned by a consortium of financial organisations to provide an understanding of how four key sectors (oil & gas, energy, commercial property and water) will be affected by a changing climate. The project highlighted why and how companies in those sectors should mainstream adaptation into their strategic and operational decisions. It explained how the need to adapt (or failure to adapt) has the potential to impact on shareholder value. It also identified the information on climate change risks and adaptation that companies need to provide to investors, so that they can incorporate these issues into their valuation models. One of the key objectives of the project was to provide a basis for investor engagement with companies on their strategic risk management and disclosure of adaptation.

The full report is available to download here

BG Group. Climate risk screening and development of a climate risk management process (2008 – 2009)
BG Group commissioned Acclimatise to identify some of the potential changes in climate for the locations of BG Group current and future assets and provide support in designing and implementing its Climate Risk Management Framework. BG Group introduced the Climate Risk Management Framework in 2009.
The first stage of the project involved a study of how climatic conditions might change for the locations of BG Group current and future assets. This portfolio analysis was complemented by a case study of the climate change risk exposures of one of BG Group’s assets, its Karachaganak joint-venture in Kazakhstan.
The second stage of our work centred on the development of a Climate Risk Management Framework aimed to support BG Group staff in managing climate change risks to existing assets and new projects and delivering on the requirements of BG Group ‘Environmental Expectations Standard’. It was developed as a step-by-step process, compatible with BG Group internal risk management processes, to guide the nominated lead of an asset or project in identifying:

• Key climate change risks,
• Control and management actions following a cost-benefit analysis, and
• Implementation plans.

The approach followed was collaborative and engaged the different future categories of users of the framework in achieving a ‘hands-on’ process, which was aligned with the company’s internal existing standards and processes.
BG Group has adopted internal mandatory requirements governing climate change adaptation, which set out how risks to operations from foreseeable changes in the climate should be assessed to deliver against the company’s operational and environmental standards. These new requirements are being implemented through the Climate Risk Management Framework.

Association of British Insurers. Climate change and business opportunities (2007)
In 2007, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) commissioned Acclimatise, with support from Futerra, to prepare a major report titled ‘Insuring our future climate: thinking for tomorrow, today’. The report explores the business opportunities for ins