Climate Adaptation MSMEs & the Growth of the Global Adaptation Economy

Background:

Around the world, there is a rapidly growing need for solutions to tackle the physical impacts of climate change, particularly from the private sector. In response, we are seeing an emergence of innovative start-ups and SMEs, particularly in the Global South, providing a wide range of products and services aimed at tackling different climate threats across different communities and sectors of the economy, tailored to local contexts and needs. Examples of these include;

• Low-cost climate risk mapping tools, combining open-source earth observation data with cheap drone technology,
• New crop types, seed treatments and smart irrigation equipment that perform better under adverse conditions,
• Nature-based cooling solutions for buildings and urban areas,

These businesses represent a significant component of the new ‘adaptation economy’ that is steadily growing around the world and providing an exciting opportunity for investors.At the same time, the adaptation economy is a tiny fraction of the size of the more mature and advanced mitigation economy. Entrepreneurs and their businesses still face many challenges to establishing effective adaptation-focused business models, while most investors are not equipped with the knowledge and tools to effectively assess potential investment opportunities in this new sector of the green economy.ly assess potential investment opportunities in this new sector of the green economy.

Agenda

The event will be in the form of presentations and roundtable discussions. It will follow;

1. Presentation on the growth of the Adaptation Economy, its growth and needs,
2. Showcasing of business types and opportunities/challenges
3. Questions for the audience - Learning questions: How do we drive investment at scale in to this sector?
4. Roundtable discussions & Next Steps
5. Networking & Invitation to join the community of practice

Programmes Involved

The main programme will be the Climate Adaptation Innovation Learning (CAIL) project, managed by Climate-KIC on behalf of UNIDO and The GEF. Partner organisations will also be invited to participate and share their perspectives.

Partners

Climate-KIC

GARI

The GEF

The Vertical

About the Systemic Climate Action Collaborative:

The Systemic Climate Action Collaborative is a groundbreaking initiative uniting 15 diverse partners working across six continents, with a cumulative global track record of over 250 years. We are bringing together leading foundations, philanthropists, corporations, public institutions, and more. We are determined to create a paradigm shift, moving beyond siloed climate efforts ensuring that the scale and coordination of our action meets the urgency and pervasiveness of the crisis by aligning our ambitions, coordinating our efforts, exchanging learnings and information, and pooling resources.For more information, please visit https://www.thecollaborative.world/

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Civic Hall, 124 East 14th Street, New York, United States