Prepare your company for climate change

Your company may face supply disruptions due to the total or partial loss of transport routes. Roads can be flooded, bridges destroyed or canals dry up. This may lead to significant delays in the delivery of your company's goods and services or, in the worst case, no delivery at all.

Supply problems, floods, droughts and reduced water availability are some factors that could lead to shortages of certain components and raw materials. The conditions for producing certain raw materials in Sweden and other countries may change.

The physical premises of your business, such as offices, shops or warehouses, are at risk of being damaged or completely destroyed by, for example, flooding from cloudbursts or collapse from landslides. Extreme heatwaves can also have a negative impact on your business and the goods stored on your premises.

High temperatures or very cold winters, floods or strong winds may cause your business to experience disruptions to your electricity supply. Water supply and sewage systems stop working without electricity, and telecoms and data communication systems can also be impacted. This may prevent, e.g., use of mobile phones or computers.

How vulnerable is your company to climate change in the short and long term? Although it is difficult to predict what might occur due to climate change in a specific location, risk-prevention measure can be taken.

• Vulnerability in transport, import and export

This hypothetical scenario has been developed by the Defence Research Agency and can be used for inspiration:

How will you ensure the flow of goods if the port of Rotterdam, Europe's largest and most important port, is destroyed by a tidal wave? Are you aware of which goods deliveries come via that port, and whether your subcontractors have explored alternative transport routes? How long can your production last with what you have in stock?

• Vulnerability on site

It is particularly important to carry out a vulnerability analysis if you intend to establish a new business and/or physical premises. The risks are different depending on where buildings are located in the country and what the geographical conditions are like in a given location. Construction techniques and materials also play a role in a property's resistance to extreme weather and natural disasters.

Kartor över områden med risk för översvämning och brand på msb.se (in Swedish)

One way to better understand the impact on your company's operations is to practise how to deal with the situations identified in the vulnerability assessment.

New information and knowledge about climate change is emerging all the time. It is therefore wise to keep updated via your municipality and county administrative board, trade associations and public authorities such as the MSB and the Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute. Discussing climate adaptation with other business owners in your geographical location and industry is also a good way to be inspired. Below are links to several public authorities offering more information for business owners.