Climate Adaptation, the Foundation of Business Continuity

The impact of climate change on business has shifted from being a distant threat to becoming part of our everyday reality. Today, business continuity itself is at stake. Companies can no longer focus solely on mitigating climate change; they must also simultaneously adapt to it. This was the central theme of BCSDH’s business lunch held on October 7, 2025, focusing on climate adaptation.

The physical impacts of climate change are already disrupting operations and supply chains, while increasing business costs worldwide and threatening financial performance. Since 2000, the economic costs of climate-related disasters have more than doubled. At its Business Lunch, the Business Council for Sustainable Development in Hungary (BCSDH) presented a three-point recommendation and a four-point proposed action plan to help the business community take steps in the field of climate adaptation.

Adapting to climate change is not merely a choice but a business and strategic necessity. Companies need bespoke, future-fit solutions — which means they must lead the way in innovation. This was the key message of the presentation delivered by Georgia Rolfe, Principal Consultant for Sustainable Technologies at Cambridge Consultants, part of Capgemini.

“From storms to floods to droughts, climate disruption is already reshaping our economy. The businesses that step up, not just to survive, but to adapt and innovate, will define the next decade of leadership. The path forward lies in harnessing innovation and technology to embed resilience into your core strategy,” she explained.

The risks of climate change — from disruptions to water supplies and damage to physical assets to declining workforce productivity — are driving up business costs while reducing operational efficiency. According to BCSDH’s Towards Net Zero research, published in early 2025, while 91% of companies already feel the impacts of climate change, only 16% have an adaptation action plan in place. Companies urgently need to rethink their climate resilience and adaptation strategies to safeguard their long-term viability, as well as their business and social value.

In his opening remarks, Attila Chikán Jr., President of BCSDH, emphasized that “adaptation is not only about avoiding risks — it is also an opportunity. Every dollar invested in climate adaptation and resilience yields more than ten dollars in return within ten years. When a company invests in adapting to climate change, it supports its employees and the communities it touches, while making its own operations more resilient. It contributes to more predictable and therefore more competitive supply chains. Investment in resilience also paves the way for technological and operational innovation, smarter and more forward-looking planning, and long-term value creation.”

BCSDH’s Time to Transform 2030 program also aims to support companies to recognize risks and opportunities and trigger action in the field of climate adaptation. The recommendations and actions developed in relation to this topic are the outcome of comprehensive professional collaboration involving leading experts as well as executives and specialists from BCSDH member companies.

Recommendations:

I. Integrate climate change adaptation into business strategy, management, and operations
Proposed actions:
Identify short- and long-term risks to the company, including human health- and water-related issues.
Climate risk analysis, of which climate adaptation is an integral part, should cover sensitivity, exposure, impacts, and opportunities (measurement, objectives, actions, and feedback).

II. Align internal financial decision-making with a flexible adaptation plan
Proposed actions:
Identify and secure the resources needed for climate adaptation and transition through financial decision-making processes.

III. Involve and integrate stakeholders into the process for expanded impact and joint action
Proposed actions:
Extend the climate adaptation process to the entire value chain by applying the latest technologies, scientific findings, and research.

CEO roundtable
What drives true, systemic change? What personal commitments motivate those inspiring leaders whose entire lives are shaped by sustainability? What makes them role models who inspire others? And where do they identify the momentum that can spark real action?
These were the guiding questions of an open conversation featuring Balázs Báthory, Deputy CEO for Innovation and Strategic Development at MARKET Építő Plc.; Dr. Viktória Bodnár, Managing Partner at IFUA Horváth & Partners Ltd.; Zoltán Gazsi, who stepped down this year after nearly 20 years as CEO of Eisberg, and is now Founder and Leader of the Blue Zone Community; and Tibor Hodik, Managing Partner of the Progressive advertising agency and Founder and Leader of the natu group.