Thank you to everyone who made it out to our event this morning during NY Climate Week! We had an excellent turnout with a substantive and engaging discussion on climate adaptation and resilience. For those that couldn't make it, here are a few of the key takeaways from our panel:
𝗖𝘂𝗺𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗵𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗼𝗶𝗱𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲, 𝗶𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿𝘀. This presents downside risk, which is not yet adequately factored into planning by insurance companies or large corporates, as well as a massive opportunity for investors and technologists.
𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗰𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗮 𝗺𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲. At some companies, where, for example, agricultural supply chains are highly subject to climate impacts, adaptation and resilience planning is being championed by the CEO. Some big tech companies have appointed a Chief Resilience Officer. Critically, climate change affects people - so CHROs need to be involved to ensure resilience measures address the needs of the workforce.
𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗱𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲-𝗳𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗹𝗼𝗴𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗹𝘆 𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀, 𝘄𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗿𝗽𝗼𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄-𝗺𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴. Embedding A&R solutions at large corporations requires nuance, relationship-building and a very clear business case.
𝗖𝗹𝗶𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗵𝗮𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁𝘀, 𝘀𝗼 𝗔&𝗥 𝘀𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝗻 𝗮 𝘃𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘁𝘆 𝗼𝗳 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀. Jay Koh shared the impact thesis behind a Lightsmith Group portfolio company in Brazil, Beep Saude: dengue fever has become more prevalent in Brazil as a result of climate change, creating greater demand for in-home vaccinations and medical diagnostics. Beep Saude provides those services at scale.
Be on the lookout for more on this topic--we will be sharing more insights from the panel over the next few days.
Thanks again to our wonderful panelists, Amy Barnes, Jay Koh, Matt Stein and Mishal Thadani, to Dave Kirkpatrick for moderating it all and to our gracious host, Dentons and Dan Goldberg!
