CDP: Global Mining Adaptation report web launch on 28th Jan 2010

Register today for the release of the CDP: Global Mining Adaptation report at a free webinar event on 28th Jan 2010, starting at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time (UK) and finishing at 10:00.

CDP: Global Mining – Adaptation Challenge – Building business resilience to inevitable climate change

IBM and Acclimatise have joined forces to release the fourth report in a landmark adaptation series. This report is based on the responses from Global Mining companies to the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) 2008.

Produced by Acclimatise and sponsored by IBM, the report explores the business implications of inevitable climate change supported by evidence-based analysis using the Acclimatisation Index^TM to highlight the actions being taken by companies to assess and manage the impacts of a changing climate. It analyses the current challenges for mining companies, specific drivers for adaptation and provides senior executive level guidance on the actions they should consider to adapt and build business resilience to these impacts. The report also recognises that adaptation is an increasingly critical issue for governments, regulators, investors and the financial markets.

The event will be recorded. If you are unable to attend you can still register and watch the event at a later time that is more convenient to you. The final report will also be available for download from our website on the morning of the report launch.

Webinar agenda
The speakers will be Paul Simpson (COO, CDP), John Firth (CEO and co-founder, Acclimatise) and David Carter (Global Industry Lead – Mining/Forest & Paper, IBM). By attending the event you will have a unique opportunity to hear the highlights of the report from the authors and ask key questions of our expert panel. Here are a few issues the speakers will discuss:

Key challenges for the sector – and how these might be affected by climate change: Over the last two years the mining sector has seen an unparalleled period of soaring commodity prices and economic growth collapse which has given way to slowdown and recession. This creates a difficult challenge in an industry with major capital investment needs and long lead-in timelines for new developments; operating in a market subject to periodic sharp declines in prices and demands and increasing costs. Companies are faced with strategic choices which may change their business models. It is clear however, that these are not the only challenges.

Climate change is underway: Whatever we achieve in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we are now faced with further inevitable changes in our climate and in our social, economic and environmental systems. In our analysis of the responses made by mining companies to the CDP and drawing on other published material and resources, it is clear that companies do not fully recognise the impacts (risks and opportunities) that are emerging due to the changes in our climate.

Building business resilience: The sustainability of mining companies faced with delivering long term investment potential with increasing short term volatilities is challenging. The sector faces many challenges by managing boom bust, commodity price volatility, rising costs, geo-political risks, energy security, water resource availability, workforce issues, local community impacts and reputational hits. These challenges are compounded by climate change.

Stakeholder engagement: Investors and the financial institutions are taking an increasing interest in the implications of climate change. They are exploring the consequences (implications) for their investments, and for lending risk on project finance. The potential reputational implications for mining companies arising from competition for water resources and the wider impacts on local communities will be placed under more intense scrutiny.

Holistic climate strategy with a risk management approach: Mining companies should consider acting now upon the clear signals that climate change is underway. A fully integrated approach to the challenges of reducing emissions and adapting to climatic change is required. Companies should use the lessons gained from the present financial crisis to avoid the even greater and entirely ‘predictable surprise’ created by climate change.

Webinar event: 28th Jan 2010, starting at 09:00 Greenwich Mean Time (UK) and finishing at 10:00. Webinar agenda Welcome address: David Carter, Global Industry Lead – Mining/Forest & Paper, IBM Global Business Services CDP context: Paul Simpson, Chief Operating Officer, The Carbon Disclosure Project Building business resilience: John Firth, Chief Executive Officer, Acclimatise Summary: David Carter, Global Industry Lead – Mining/Forest & Paper, IBM Global Business Services Panel Question & Answer session Close of the event

Don’t miss out, please register here.

Learn more about IBM and the Carbon Disclosure Project here.