Skillnet Climate Ready Academy has announced the launch of its new Climate Risk & Resilience Programme, designed to help Irish businesses assess, manage and respond to the growing climate related risks affecting operations, supply chains, infrastructure and long-term competitiveness.
The new programme coincides with Skillnet Climate Ready Academy’s fifth anniversary, as the Skillnet Ireland National Initiative expands its role in supporting businesses to build the practical skills needed to respond to climate change and take measurable action to mitigate impact, build resilience, and enhance competitiveness.
Commenting on the launch of the programme, Ken Finnegan, Chief Strategy Officer, Skillnet Ireland, said: “As climate change increasingly impacts businesses, the ability to identify risks, adapt, and build resilience is becoming a critical capability for enterprise. The launch of the Climate Risk & Resilience Programme reflects Skillnet Ireland’s commitment to developing skills to support sustainable growth and help organisations navigate a rapidly changing environment. Through practical, industry-led learning, this programme will equip businesses with the expertise to manage climate risk and build long-term resilience."
Maria Kelly, Programme Director, Skillnet Climate Ready Academy, said: “Over the past five years, Skillnet Climate Ready Academy has supported thousands of employees and organisations to build practical sustainability skills and take meaningful action to reduce their environmental impact. As climate risks become more immediate and more material for business, we are expanding that support to help organisations prepare for disruption, protect operations and build long-term resilience.
“The Climate Risk & Resilience Programme has been developed in direct response to what we are hearing from Irish businesses. They understand that climate change is not only an environmental issue, but a strategic business risk. This programme gives participants the tools, frameworks and confidence to assess those risks and translate them into practical action plans for their organisations.”
Claire Lynch, EHS Specialist, Atlantic Aviation and participant in the pilot programme, added: “Participating in the Climate Risk & Resilience Programme has helped us take a more strategic approach to climate risk. The programme provided practical tools and insights to identify potential impacts on our business, strengthen resilience and support informed decision-making for the future.”
The new Climate Risk & Resilience Programme is being launched following a successful pilot with 10 participating organisations. The pilot generated practical climate risk and resilience actions and highlighted the range of physical and transition risks now being considered by businesses, from localised flooding, temperature increases, and supply chain disruption to financial, market, regulatory and reputational pressures.
Participants on the programme will develop skills to conduct structured climate risk assessments, apply scenario analysis and create practical resilience strategies aligned with emerging international frameworks. The programme will also support businesses in identifying climate-related opportunities, strengthening operational resilience, and making more informed decisions in response to future disruption.
The Climate Risk & Resilience Programme builds on the Skillnet Climate Ready Academy’s existing suite of accredited programmes in areas including energy and emissions management, circular economy and resource efficiency, biodiversity, and sustainable business operations.
Since it was established five years ago, the Academy has trained 2,000 businesses and over 5,500 employees, who have collectively committed through programme action plans to implementing almost 6,000 sustainability actions within their organisations. Skillnet Climate Ready Academy is expanding its remit, with the Academy's programme portfolio now supporting both mitigation - reducing environmental impact - and adaptation - recognising risk in order to survive and thrive.
For more information about the programmes and supports available through Skillnet Climate Ready Academy, visit: www.skillnetclimatereadyacademy.ie.
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