The UK government has made an ambitious commitment to meet the net zero target by 2050. It comes in response to the undeniable impact of climate change affecting all aspects of life and urges businesses to take action and reduce their emissions. However, while environmental efforts are crucial, companies must also address the challenging effects we’re already facing, such as extreme weather events, posing a serious threat to the supply chain. With this in mind, businesses need to focus on both reducing their carbon footprint and building resilience in their supply chains to combat climate change.
In 2022, Resilinc, the supply chain mapping and risk monitoring solution, through its risk event monitoring platform EventWatchAI, reported a 36% year-on-year increase in the number of severe weather events. What’s more, extreme weather was the 11th most frequent global supply chain disruption last year.
Whether it’s snowstorms paralysing roads, hurricanes halting flights, extreme heatwaves buckling rail tracks, or any other weather phenomenon causing disruptions, all these events pose a serious threat to supply chains. And while it’s impossible to predict exactly where and when severe weather will strike, there are effective ways to better prepare for and mitigate its impact on supply chains.