Climate change has wide-ranging impacts on industry, including increased stress on natural resources, such as water, forests, and soils required for raw materials and production, pollution-related health impacts on workers, and extreme weather that threatens supply chain stability. Businesses can reduce their vulnerability to climate change by adopting measures such as reducing waste, using renewable energy, promoting energy and resource efficiency, sourcing sustainable materials, and implementing green standards. Adopting green practices also helps businesses create more reliable growth paths that reduce climate impacts while increasing business longevity, reduce cost and risk in supply chains, and spur innovation and competitiveness.
Many businesses are partnering with national governments to mitigate their impact on the climate and adapt to the impacts of a changing climate. Their activities range from working with farmers and raw material suppliers to adapt to climate change impacts and adopt more sustainable practices, to helping national and regional governments reduce carbon emissions and create more sustainable infrastructure.