Member Article

It makes good business sense to recognize climate change: Jennifer Atkinson from Climate North East speaks to bdaily

“We empower businesses by providing them with the right information to rise to challenge of climate change,” explains Jennifer Atkinson, communications officer for Climate North East.

By working closely with businesses in the region, Climate North East strives to “investigate, inform and advise on the threats an opportunities presented by the impacts of climate change”, and it is Jennifer’s job to communicate this message to a wide range of audiences. However, this can be a difficult task, due to a lack of understanding in the business community.

“The vast number of risks surrounding climate change are becoming increasingly recognised,” says Jennifer, “ So it’s hardly surprising that there’s so much confusion around it.”

Climate North east recently conducted a survey of 300 North East businesses, which highlighted the need for more information targeted specifically at businesses.

Using her specialist qualification in climate change PR, Jennifer and her colleagues have worked closely with other business organisations to develop a website with advice and help for confused businesses.

“We’ve worked in partnership with the FSB and the NECC to provide relevant and practical information to help businesses identify if they are at risk of the impact of climate change, as well as reducing emissions and improving energy efficiency.

“We also help them to identify commercial opportunities and find sources of funding.”

Climate North East has now begun to help people embed policies which deal with climate change into their day-to-day practices, by bring together a wide range of commercial and public sector organisations in partnership to address and work on the various areas of climate change agenda.

Jennifer is now encouraging more to get involved – regardless of their personal views.

“Whether they believe in the science behind it or not, most businesses are in agreement that it makes good business sense to look at the commercial opportunities involved in being aware of the environment.

“We have a strong and robust evidence base here which shows that needs to be done to protect the environment, and it makes good business sense to ensure you are resilient.”

Climate North East is now working alongside nine other climate change partnerships, under the umbrella group ClimateUK. Together the group will now look to ensure all local partners can access support to help even more businesses.

“The new programme will increase resilience in key sectors including infrastructure, build environment, business, natural environment, health and local government.

“We will also feed in local intelligence to help shape policy at a national level, which could make a positive difference to the way businesses and the environment interact in the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .