As climate change intensifies, businesses and communities must prioritize resilience. This week’s Featured Article explores how Glasgow-based Dear Green Coffee Roastersis integrating climate resilience principles into its operations, from its sourcing strategy to decarbonization commitments. Founder Lisa Lawson highlights the urgent need for systemic change, ensuring coffee’s future amid growing climate risks.
Across industries, climate resilience is essential. This week’s Essential Reads showcase farmers using traditional knowledge to adapt, threats to apple farming, climate action in education, and Iraq’s water security. These cases highlight the need for both local action and national policies to address climate challenges.
In the Research Corner, a Strategic Management Journal study finds that while companies with strong sustainability commitments adapt better, many remain unprepared for long-term climate risks. Businesses must embed resilience into their strategies to withstand future disruptions.
From wildfire prevention to urban adaptation, this week’s insights underscore the urgency of sustainable solutions. Let’s dive in.
Featured Article:
Sustainable Coffee for a Resilient Future
In the face of climate change and shifting consumer expectations, the coffee industry is at a turning point. Dear Green Coffee Roasters, a Glasgow-based specialty coffee company, is demonstrating how businesses can integrate sustainability into their core operations while maintaining quality and ethical integrity. Founded by Lisa Lawson in 2011, the company has built a reputation for sourcing responsibly, reducing environmental impact, and advocating for fair pricing for farmers.
In this Forbes article, I explore how Dear Green is tackling some of the industry's biggest sustainability challenges. From adopting agroforestry practices to working towards Net Zero emissions, the company is taking a full value-chain approach to what responsible coffee production looks like. Lisa shares her experiences visiting coffee-growing regions, where she has seen firsthand the impact of climate change on smallholder farmers. She emphasizes the need for systemic change—both within the industry and through government policy—to secure the future of coffee.
As climate risks grow, the role of specialty coffee businesses in advocating for sustainable practices becomes even more crucial. By investing in climate adaptation, transparent sourcing, and consumer education, Dear Green is not just roasting coffee—it is reshaping the industry’s future.
Read more: Roasting Sustainably: Dear Green's Vision for a Climate-Resilient Coffee Industry
Essential Reads:
Climate Resilient Crops
Small to medium-scale farmers are adapting to climate change using indigenous knowledge and sustainable practices. Strategies like crop diversification, furrows to manage water flow, and natural fertilization help secure food production. However, commercial farmers struggle with transitioning due to cost barriers. Experts emphasize the need for policies supporting sustainable farming for long-term resilience.
Apple Farming Threatened
Climate change is disrupting U.S. apple production, affecting yields, quality, and marketability. Rising temperatures, unpredictable frosts, and extreme heat stress trees and reduce fruit size. Researchers are developing adaptive strategies, including heat-resistant apple varieties, improved irrigation, and orchard layout optimization. Collaboration between farmers, scientists, and policymakers is crucial to ensuring sustainable apple production.
Read more: Climate change is affecting prime apple growing regions in US
Climate Action in Schools
The British Columbia School Trustees Association (BCSTA) urges school districts to adopt region-specific climate strategies aligned with CleanBC’s 50% emission reduction goal by 2030. The report emphasizes sustainable infrastructure, energy-efficient transport, and Indigenous perspectives. Despite progress, BCSTA calls for predictable funding and stronger collaboration between schools and policymakers to protect students' futures.
Read more: BCSTA calls for region-specific responses to climate change
Iraq’s Climate Crisis
Iraq, once the cradle of civilization, faces severe climate challenges, including rising temperatures, water scarcity, desertification, and food insecurity. Declining Tigris and Euphrates river flows threaten agriculture and public health, exacerbating displacement and conflict. Extreme heat, dust storms, and waterborne diseases strain Iraq’s infrastructure. Urgent action is needed to secure resources and mitigate climate-induced migration.
Read more: Drought in the Land of Plenty: The Impacts of Climate Change on Iraqi Security
Collective Climate Action
Addressing climate resilience requires collaboration beyond borders. The Yamuna River Basin Collective Action, led by HCLFoundation (the corporate social responsibility arm of HCLTech in India), showcases how partnerships can restore water ecosystems. By rejuvenating 140+ water structures, harvesting 34 billion liters of water, and planting 600,000 native trees, this initiative proves that shared efforts can drive meaningful environmental change. Collective action is key to sustainability.
Read more: Collective action is the key to drive urgency in building climate resilience
Alaska’s Warming Hotspots
New research reveals Alaska’s extreme climate hotspots, with permafrost thaw accelerating global warming. These vulnerable Arctic ecosystems face infrastructure damage, wildlife disruptions, and increased carbon emissions. Advanced climate mapping identifies critical regions needing urgent action. As the Arctic serves as a warning for global climate risks, researchers stress the need for targeted adaptation strategies.
Read more: New Maps Expose Alarming Hotspots of Rapid Climate Change in Alaska
Wildfire Resilience
As Los Angeles addresses wildfire crisis experts emphasize fire-adapted ecosystems, and resilient urban planning. Climate change has intensifies these disasters, demanding urgent action. Community support, ecological integrity, and policy shifts are key to protecting homes and landscapes. The call to action: rebuild with foresight and compassion.
Read more: Rising from the Ashes: Wildfire Resilience for Los Angeles and Beyond
Urban Climate Resilience
Cities face increasing threats from extreme weather, requiring a shift from traditional development models. Investing in climate adaptation, AI-driven planning, and sustainable infrastructure boosts resilience and economic competitiveness. Examples like Miami’s climate strategy and Hong Kong’s digital twins highlight the power of innovation. Public-private collaboration and finance are key to future-proofing urban environments.
Read more: Extreme weather events: Why cities can't afford 'business as usual'
Research Corner:
Corporate Adaptation to Climate Risks
A new study published in the Strategic Management Journal examines how companies respond to physical climate change risks. Using a novel dataset combining corporate adaptation strategies with climate science data, researcher Xia Li finds that firms are more likely to adapt when climate risks are highly salient to their business operations. However, many companies still fail to fully address climate exposures, highlighting a gap in preparedness. The study also reveals that firms with strong environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG) capabilities and long-term strategic outlooks are better positioned to implement effective climate adaptation measures. These findings underscore the need for targeted policies and corporate strategies to enhance resilience in a rapidly changing climate.
Read more: Physical Climate Change Exposure and Firms' Adaptation Strategy
Quick Takeaways:
Traditional Farming Resilience: Indigenous methods help small farmers adapt; commercial farms struggle with costs.
India’s Climate Strategy: Net-zero by 2070 focuses on renewables, resilience, and circular economy.
Apple Farming Threatened: Heat stress reduces yields; researchers develop climate-adaptive solutions.
Sustainable Schools: BC schools push for climate-friendly infrastructure and better funding.
Iraq’s Water Crisis: Extreme heat and drought threaten agriculture, health, and security.
Restoring Water Systems: Yamuna River project showcases collective action for climate resilience.
Alaska’s Climate Risks: Permafrost thaw accelerates warming, damaging infrastructure and ecosystems.
Wildfire Resilience: LA must adopt fire-adapted planning and Indigenous stewardship.
Urban Climate Action: Cities need AI-driven planning and green infrastructure for resilience.