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Climate Connect Aotearoa, a hub for collaborative climate innovation established by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited on behalf of Auckland Council, has launched a new digital tool called ClimateWise, designed to help small and medium-sized enterprises adapt to climate change.
The free platform provides practical tools and resources to help Auckland businesses identify and manage climate-related risks, a critical need highlighted by the severe weather events of 2023, which resulted in $670 million worth of insurance claims from Auckland businesses alone.
Tātaki Auckland Unlimited head of climate innovation and sustainability Parin Rafiei-Thompson says ClimateWise addresses a gap in support for SMEs, which make up 98.7 per cent of Auckland’s business community.
“SMEs are the backbone of Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland’s economy, yet many lack the resources and information to prepare for climate impacts. This platform provides user-friendly, accessible tools to help business owners identify risks and opportunities, protect their operations, strengthen supply chain resilience, and develop robust plans,” says Parin.
ClimateWise was developed after extensive engagement across industry and in collaboration with climate resilience experts and business networks including Tonkin + Taylor, Sustainable Business Network, BusinessNZ, Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Ministry for the Environment, Auckland Council, Tātaki Auckland Unlimited, EMA, Sustainable Business Council, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research and Auckland Emergency Management.
Engagement and workshops with SMEs, including Māori and Pacific peoples’ businesses, informed the platform’s development to ensure resources are practical and easy to implement. Features include:
- video tutorials
- simple guidance notes
- downloadable templates for risk assessment and adaptation planning
- case studies of SMEs’ experiences of recovering from extreme weather events or successfully implementing climate adaptation measures.
Charlotte Kootstra, sustainability manager for climate and enironment at Sustainable Business Council, a key partner in the project, emphasises the growing importance of climate preparedness in supply chains: “Suppliers with a climate adaptation plan signal to their customers that there is a lower risk of disruption to the flow of products or services, particularly during adverse weather events.”
Climate Connect Aotearoa was established by Tātaki Auckland Unlimited on behalf of Auckland Council in October 2022 and is funded by Auckland Council. The launch of ClimateWise is part of the broader mission of Climate Connect Aotearoa to accelerate innovation supporting Te Tāruke-ā-Tāwhiri: Auckland’s Climate Plan, which aims to reduce emissions by 50 per cent by 2030 while building regional resilience.
A second phase of the project, planned for later in 2025, will include a ‘train-the-trainer’ programme to further develop climate resilience capabilities across the business community.
SMEs can access the platform at learn.climateconnectnz.com. Businesses interested in sharing their climate adaptation journey as a case study are encouraged to contact Climate Connect Aotearoa
