Private sector and climate adaptation (part 1). Draft Report, August 2010.

Examines how the private sector can build resilience to climate impacts and use business opportunities for adaptation

Abstract

This briefing note was produced in response to a DEWPoint helpdesk enquiry for information on how the private sector in developing countries can build resilience to climate impacts and take advantage of business opportunities for adaptation. To build resilience, the private sector needs to protect its operations and collaborate with the communities in which it operates to help them to do the same. The need to collaborate to avoid conflict, and to internalise and institutionalise climate risk management into decision-making processes and operations is discussed. Three brief case studies describing water auditing and management in South Africa, weather-indexed insurance in India, and contract farming and alternative crops in India, are presented. Examples of the commercial opportunities presented by helping the wider community to adapt are given, and a number of constraints to adaptation are highlighted.

This report was produced by DEW Point, a Resource Centre for Environment, Water and Sanitation, that was funded by DFID and managed by a consortium of companies led by Harewelle International Limited. The Resource Centre closed in 2012.

Citation

Harrison, N. Private sector and climate adaptation (part 1). Draft Report, August 2010. DEW Point, Blisworth, UK (2010) 11 pp.

Published 1 January 2010