Introduction to cases

Companies can manage the risks and opportunities of climate change!

Several companies around the world have used the 4-Step Climate Expert Approach to identify climate change impacts and adaptation measures. They have assessed risks, opportunities and measures to develop an adaptation strategy that fits their situation and priorities. The following Case Studies present the results of the company assessments. Read through the cases to get some exiting insights into real company’s decision-making processes! 

Rocky Dockyard, Bangladesh

M/S. Rocky Dockyard is a family run business that was founded in 1992 and is registered in Khulna, Bangladesh. Climate change affects the inland water transport and shipbuilding sectors in various ways. Based on the 4-Step Climate Expert Approach, M/S Rocky Dockyard has now identified and prioritised adaptation measures to reduce the risks posed by climate change.  

Khairul Auto Rice Mill, Bangladesh

M/S. Khairul Auto Rice Mill is a small business that was founded in 2007 and is registered by the government of Bangladesh. The company produces par-boiled rice (60 % of production) and atop rice (40 %). Climate change affects the company in various ways. For example, production of rice is hampered by intense and irregular rainfalls and salinity intrusion from sea level rise. 

AVEIRO, Morocco

AVEIRO is a fish processing company founded in 1946 and based in Agadir in the semi-arid region of Souss Massa. Exposure of the company to climate change is high - for example, floods have damaged the company's pemises and blocked transport roads and heat waves affect its employees. 

Agrumar Souss, Morocco

AGRUMAR SOUSS was founded in 1980. It processes citrus fruit for export to Russia and other countries. On the one hand, climate change affects the company directly - for example, strong rainfalls have destroyed part of its stored goods in the past. On the other hand, it also affects its value chain as citrus fruit trees are highly sensitive to heat and water stress. 

Ait Melloul Industrial Zone, Morocco

The Ait Melloul industrial zone (Ait Melloul IZ) was created in 1988 in the commune of Ait Melloul, a nearby locality of Agadir in the Souss- Massa region, one of the most climate vulnerable regions of Morocco. Today the zone faces a number of challenges which are increasing its vulnerability to climate change, as for example old equipment and infrastructures, no sectoral zoning, etc.

Starbucks FSC, Rwanda

Starbucks Farmer Support Centre Rwanda is one of nine Starbucks farmer support centres worldwide. It aims to support coffee farmers to produce the best quality of coffee. The company is piloting parabolic drying structures with the coffee washing stations they are working with in order to reduce the number of drying days from the usual 28 days to between 8 – 12 days. This measure helps to address the risk of increased heavy rainfalls, caused by climate change. 

Sina Gerard, Rwanda

Sina Gerard (URWIBUTSO) is a food processing company founded in 1983 in Nyirangarama, Rwanda. During the company assessment, few risk or opportunities from climate change could be identified. However, the assessment team found out that the company is currently facing several problems in the production process, as well as cash-flow, storage and machinery problems.

COOPAC, Rwanda

COOPAC is a coffee processing company founded in 2001 in the Western Province of Rwanda. According to a vulnerability baseline study this province is especially exposed to climate impacts from a change in the amount of rainfall, a shift in seasons - especially the beginning of the rainy seasons - and wind and thunder events. 

Union Varsan, Costa Rica

Located in Monteverde, Costa Rica, Union Varsan is a family-owned agro-tourism company founded in 1990 that has two main economic activities: the production, processing and marketing of coffee, and agricultural sustainability education. Unión Varsan is affected by climate change both directly (due to the effects of climate change on coffee production) and indirectly (from the impacts of climate change on the region as a whole).

Los Pinos, Costa Rica

Located in Monteverde, Costa Rica, Los Pinos is a tourist accommodation company founded in 1987. The main effects of climate change that affect the company are related to the variation in temperature and precipitation patterns. Longer dry seasons and heavier rainfall during rainy seasons will affect Monteverde's natural ecosystems, thus putting the Los Pinos' main attraction - its gardens and nature reserve - at risk.

Rios Tropicales, Costa Rica

Ríos Tropicales, an eco-adventure company founded in 1985, has always been characterized by its environmental policy and quest for sustainability. The company is dependent for most of its activities and services upon weather conditions, and the water level of several rivers nation wide. Changes in weather patterns and more frequent extremes (intense rains or extended dry periods) severely affect their operations.

Chiles de Nicaragua, Nicaragua

Chiles de Nicaragua is a family-owned agro exporting company, with over 25 years of experience in producing and exporting chili to the U.S. Even though the company and its many producers are located in diverse areas within Nicaragua, all are affected by changes in weather patterns and seasons. Moreover,  intense rainfall events and river floods are affecting the access roads and transportation of chili.