Catalyzing Corporate Climate Resilience: A New Leadership Imperative

As the world grapples with the intensifying threats of climate change, the role of businesses to drive transformation in our global economies and improve the well-being of communities has never been more critical. However, the lack of a clear pathway, common framework, and platform for peer exchange hinders the development of climate resilience across industry sectors.

Addressing the challenge, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, Resilience Rising, and Resilience First, are spearheading a multi-year initiative to craft a comprehensive climate resilience framework for businesses that supports climate risk management and disclosure and collaborative approaches to building resilience to the physical impacts of climate change as a complement to efforts to reduce transition risks to a low-carbon future. This innovative program aspires to chart a course for meaningful corporate action, catalyzing investment in adaptation and resilience, and igniting systemic transformation for a robust global economy.

Through this initiative, we have engaged with nearly 70 stakeholders at prominent events, private forums, and virtual discussions to develop the business case, highlight key barriers and drivers for action, and identify the strategic direction needed to catalyze investment and impact. These learnings are codified into a headline report—Climate Resilience Pathways: Catalyzing Private Sector Action—and a set of working Principles for Corporate Climate Resilience Leadership, reflecting a current view of the role of companies and defining a leading vision for catalyzing climate resilience through private sector action.

The initiative and its deliverables have been endorsed by the UNFCCC Race to Resilience Campaign and is supported by AT&T, Marsh, Meta, and Resonance.

Opening Remarks

Nat Keohane
President, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

Nathaniel Keohane is President of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), which is widely recognized in the United States and internationally as a leading, independent voice for practical policy and action to address the world’s energy and climate challenges. Dr. Keohane is an economist with more than 20 years…

Seth Schultz
Chief Executive Officer | Resilience First/Resilience Rising
Shazre Quamber-Hill
Director for Strategy and Impact | Resilience First/Resilience Rising
Racquel Moses
Ambassador, UN Climate Champions Team and Chief Executive Officer of Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator

Panel Conversation

Nick Faull
Head of Climate and Sustainability Risk and Innovation | Marsh
Emily Wasley
Head of Climate Resilience and Biodiversity | Meta
Peter Hall
Managing Director, Climate Impact Advisory | Resonance
Jess Filante
Director, Global Environmental Sustainability | AT&T
Verena Radulovic — Moderator
Vice President for Business Engagement, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions

Verena Radulovic is Vice President for Business Engagement at the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. Ms. Radulovic works with businesses, policymakers and other stakeholders to advance business action on climate mitigation and resilience and help galvanize business support for ambitious, practical climate policies and solutions. She manages the Business…