Corporate Climate Adaptation: new book by Mistra Mineral Governance researcher Lisa Dellmuth.

Lisa Dellmuth, Professor of International Relations at Stockholm University, has together with Maria-Therese Gustafsson, Assistant Professor in Political Science at Stockholm University, written a new book, Corporate Climate Adaptation, which engages with how companies can adapt to climate change.

Lisa Dellmuth: “We think the book can inspire responsible business conduct in the context of climate adaptation. Our quantitative and qualitative data can be used by practitioners in companies, public institutions, and civil society to integrate the principles we identify as relevant for responsible business conduct in adaptation into regulatory policies, decision-making and advocacy.”

Published by Cambridge University Press, it presents a theoretical framework that explains how regulatory and political factors external to firms influence their consideration of societal needs when adapting to climate change. Using a novel quantitative and qualitative dataset, it shows that the world's largest mining companies have primarily addressed climate risks through conventional corporate social responsibility strategies rather than procedural components of responsible business conduct, such as risk assessments, participation, and transparency. The results suggest this outcome is best explained by a combination of weak governance, lax voluntary standards, and civil society advocacy

Lisa, why did you write this book together with Maria-Therese?

“When we began studying the role of businesses in climate adaptation, we were struck by how uncritical much of the existing literature was. The debate largely focused on how companies could protect their assets and supply chains from climate risks. Yet a large body of research shows that adaptation typically produces winners and losers.”

“With this book, we wanted to offer a different perspective on corporate adaptation, one that pays attention not only to how companies can adapt to climate risks, but why and how they can do so in ways that reduces risks for surrounding communities and ecosystems. The mining sector proved to be a particularly revealing case: it is highly exposed to environmental hazards and climate risks, where extreme weather can damage infrastructure holding toxic waste and where corporate adaptation can create serious risks for nearby communities.”

How would you like the results to be used?

“We think the book can inspire responsible business conduct in the context of climate adaptation. Our quantitative and qualitative data can be used by practitioners in companies, public institutions, and civil society to integrate the principles we identify as relevant for responsible business conduct in adaptation into regulatory policies, decision-making and advocacy. For example, incorporating climate risks into environmental impact assessments could help identify where mining activities should be restricted to avoid future harm to communities and ecosystems.”

“We also found very little advocacy about climate adaptation, and encourage civil society actors to articulate clearer demands for transparency about climate-related risks. Finally, the book can serve as a practical reference for sustainability professionals within companies seeking to integrate adaptation into existing human rights and environmental due diligence processes.”

“Beyond these practical implications, the book contributes to research.”

“It leverages new theory and data to explain why transnational companies often respond to climate change with conventional corporate social responsibility (CSR) approaches, while neglecting safeguards for society and nature. We identify four principles central to responsible business conduct in adaptation: assessments of climate risks to society, stakeholder participation, transparency, and CSR investments in public adaptation goods.”

“Drawing on novel quantitative and qualitative evidence from the mining sector, and extensive fieldwork in local mining sites in Peru, we show that corporate adaptation is often selective, reactive, and layered into existing CSR initiatives, instead of addressing climate risks in a transparent and inclusionary manner. We explain this outcome by insufficient private governance of climate change by weak regulations, soft voluntary standards, and uneven civil society pressure.”

Buy and read the book Corporate Climate Adaptation on the Cambridge University Press website