Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is reshaping industries in real time. More frequent heat waves, stronger hurricanes, extreme precipitation, and prolonged droughts are disrupting operations, impacting supply chains, and affecting the communities where businesses operate. Businesses, as key drivers of investment, innovation, and economic productivity, are uniquely interconnected with everything—from supply chains and infrastructure to the livelihoods of employees and the health of the communities where they operate. As such, they have a critical role to play in building a more resilient future and must also adapt swiftly to survive a changing climate, with those leading on climate resilience positioning themselves for long-term success.

Resilience, in general, is widely viewed as the capacity to bounce back, evolve, and thrive amid unexpected events, shocks, or stressors. For major companies, resilience involves a holistic approach to organizational design, behaviors, and work practices that promote agility, adaptability, and creative problem-solving to adapt, withstand, and recover from disruptions while maintaining value delivery to stakeholders. Additionally, it requires a deep understanding of the various risks an organization faces and its ability to effectively navigate and recover from them. To meet the current and increasingly severe impacts from climate change, companies must adjust their strategies and internal structures to meet climate-related challenges; have the tools and knowledge to effectively assess and manage these risks; foster a culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and shared knowledge; promote resilience as a strategic priority from leadership; and build trust through active engagement with all stakeholders—especially those communities in which they operate.

In these ways, companies can better navigate the uncertainties of climate change, ensuring they can foster long-term growth and both economic and environmental sustainability. As more companies implement climate resilience measures–some starting with key projects, and some implementing resilience at the enterprise level—it is important that their stories and experiences are shared to inspire and inform how peers across industry sectors can begin to take action.

By illustrating the innovative approaches taken by companies across sectors, C2ES’s Corporate Climate Resilience Pathways initiative aims to foster industry-wide leadership and create a ripple effect where companies can learn from one another, amplifying the positive impact of climate resilience measures across sectors. This effort joins a growing body of expertise and guidance, including contributions from organizations like the World Business Council for Sustainable Development and the World Economic Forum, which emphasize the importance of cross-sector integration of climate adaptation and resilience into core business operations.