Private Sector Initiative (PSI) database

While climate change poses a number of risks to vulnerable communities and businesses around the world, many opportunities are unfolding for private companies to implement actions towards reducing risks to their business operations, as well as investing in adaptation action in vulnerable regions in a sustainable and profitable manner, including:

New market opportunities and expansions;
Development of climate friendly goods and services;
Potential cost savings;
Risk reduction measures, including physical operations;
Climate proofing the supply chain;
Enhanced corporate social responsibility.

This online database of case studies has been developed under the Private Sector Initiative (PSI) of the Nairobi work programme, and features good practices and profitable climate change adaptation activities being undertaken by private companies (sometimes in partnership with NGOs or the public sector) from a wide range of regions and sectors.

Adaptation activities may relate either to ensuring the resilience of business operations, or the provision of technologies or services that assist in the adaptation in vulnerable communities.

For any suggestions for additional examples to be included in this database, please download the submission form and email it to nwp@unfccc.int with the subject "PSI case study". For a sample of a submission click here.

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Database of case studies
Title of business case	Name of company	Business sector	Main adaptation area relevant to case study	Country
Water Vision Schiphol 2030: Creating a water sensitive airport	Royal HaskoningDHV	Engineering and Project Management Consulting	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements; Water resources	The Netherlands
Bio-toilets: Building a climate resilient society through environmentally friendly sanitation	Banka BioLoo Pvt Ltd	Waste Management	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	India
Enabling access to weather and climate services in Africa	Ericsson	Telecommunications	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	Uganda
Providing farming training and assistance Reducing water losses in South Africa	Nestlé	Food and Beverages	Education and training; Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Water resources	China; Cote d'Ivoire; Ecuador; France; Indonesia; Mexico; Philippines; Thailand
Mainstreaming adaptation into projects: the Climate Safeguards System prototype	Global Climate Adaptation Partnership (GCAP)	Consulting and Environmental Services	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	Tunisia
Rainwater harvesting and storage technology (bob)	EnterpriseWorks/VITA (EWV) a Division of Relief International	Consulting and Environmental Services	Business; Human health; Water resources	Uganda
The SimCLIM modelling system for climate impact and adaptation assessment	CLIMsystems Ltd	Information Technology Services	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements; Water resources	United States of America
Natural disaster insurance protecting Haiti's micro-entrepreneurs	Fonkoze (Fondasyon Kole Zepol)	Financial Services	Business; Education and training; Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	Haiti
Going beyond offsetting to invest in adaptation	Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP; UNICEF UK	Legal Services	Human health; Water resources	Mozambique
Desalination: Kurnell Project	Veolia Water	Energy and Utilities	Water resources	Australia
The effects of climate change on highway network policies and standards	URS Corporation	Construction and Engineering	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	United Kingdom
Adaptation of Railways to Climate Change (ARISCC)	International Union of Railways (UIC)	Transport and Logistics	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	France
Taking care of water: Adapting business operations	Thames Water	Energy and Utilities	Water resources	United Kingdom
Weather Index Insurance for drought risk in Thailand	Sompo Japan Insurance, Inc.	Financial Sector	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements; Water resources	Thailand
Mountains of change	Rifugio Dorigoni	Tourism and Recreation	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Tourism	Italy
Wave Energy Converter	Nova Oceanic Energy Systems Inc.	Energy and Utilities	Oceans and coastal areas	Dominican Republic; other Caribbean States
Tomorrow's railway and climate change adaptation	Network Rail Infrastructure Limited	Transport and Logistics	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	United Kingdom
Research4Life and Eye On Earth	Microsoft Corporation	Information Technology Services	Education and training; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	All
Climate Change and Environmental Risk Atlas	Maplecroft	Information Technology Services; Consulting and Environmental Services	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	All
Investing in adaptation as part of corporate carbon management strategy	CB Richard Ellis (CBRE); UNICEF UK	Real Estate Services	Education and training; Human health	Madagascar
Adaptation for Smallholders to Climate Change (AdapCC)	Cafédirect; GIZ	Food and Beverages	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Peru
Climate change adaptation strategy for Kayonza Growers Tea Factory	Cafédirect; GIZ	Food and Beverages	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Uganda
New technologies for climate change adaptation	BASF	Chemicals	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Brazil
Adaptation and the legal sector	Ecofys	Consulting and Environmental Services	Education and training	Netherlands
Hurricane guarantees and waivers	Apple Vacations; Club Med; Sandals; SuperClubs; TNT Vacations	Tourism and Recreation	Tourism	Caribbean; Central America
Renewable energy building resilience of island communities	Ankur Scientific Technologies Pvt. Ltd.	Energy and Utilities; Science and Technology	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements; Renewable energy systems	India
eMalahleni: Water for adaptation	Anglo American	Mining and Metals	Water resources	South Africa
Guaranteeing security of supplies	Anglian Water	Water Management	Water resources	United Kingdom
Insuring against climate impacts and rewarding sustainable business practices	Allianz	Financial Services	Business	Brazil; Egypt; India; Indonesia;
Microinsurance reducing farmers' exposure to weather risk	BASIX and ICICI Lombard	Financial Services	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	India
Developing stress-tolerant plants	Bayer	Chemicals	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Multiple
Fighting malaria with communities and governments	BHP Billiton	Mining and Metals	Human health	Mozambique
Planetary Skin	Cisco Systems	Information Technology Services	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	United States of America
Adaptation program to support ecosystem services	EEAB (Bogot Water and Sewage Company)	Water Management	Water resources	Colombia
Adapting road infrastructure to climate change	Egis	Construction and Engineering	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	France
Hurricane Katrina: A climate wakeup call	Entergy Corporation	Energy and Utilities	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	United States of America
Technologies that build climate resilience	General Electric	Water Management	Water resources	Algeria; China; India
Ensuring reliability and continuity of energy supply	Eskom	Energy and Utilities	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	South Africa
Coffee Under Pressure: Climate Change and Adaptation in Mesoamerica (CUP)	Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR); International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT); Catholic Relief Services (CRS)	Food and Beverages; Agriculture	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	El Salvador; Guatemala; Mexico; Nicaragua
Climate controlled greenhouses	Greenfield Hydroponics Systems, Inc.	Agriculture	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	India
New variety of blackcurrants to survive mild winters	GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) (Ribena) and Scottish Crop Research Institute	Agriculture; Food and Beverages	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	United Kingdom
Provision of solar energy builds resilience of rural population	HiNation AB	Energy and Utilities	Renewable energy systems	Multiple
Preventive weather forecasting for West African farmers to increase agricultural yield	Ignitia AB, Ignitia Ghana Ltd	Science and Technology	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	Ghana
Building community adaptive capacity	Himal Power Limited	Energy and Utilities	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	Nepal
Water Wars	Intel	Information Technology Services	Water resources	United States of America
Relocation to improve snow pack and lengthen ski season	Intrawest	Tourism and Recreation	Tourism	Canada
Adaptation to climate change impacts through diversification of farming systems	ITC Limited	Agriculture	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	India
Water conservation through precision irrigation, a growing business	John Deere	Agriculture	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Israel; United States of America; Zambia
Levi's Water	Levi Strauss & Co.	Retail	Water resources	United States of America
Unraveling the cocoa genome	Mars; IBM; U.S. Department of Agriculture	Food and Beverages; Science and Technology	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Multiple
Learning about the economics of adaptation	McKinsey & Company	Consulting and Environmental Services	Business; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	United States of America
Adapting to climate change through changing growing patterns and spreading risks	Meinert Enterprises	Agriculture	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Canada
The 100K Home	Mario Cucinella Architects	Construction and Engineering	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	Spain
InfraWeather	OBB	Transport and Logistics	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	Austria
Replenishing water	PepsiCo India	Food and Beverages	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Water resources	India
Building alliances around climate insurance	Munich Re	Financial Services	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	Germany
Expertise reduces climate change risks for most vulnerable	Rabobank	Financial Services	Education and training	Cambodia; India; Indonesia; Laos; Philippines; Vietnam
Disaster preparedness, local capacity building, and planning	Riverside Technology	Consulting and Environmental Services	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Education and training	Bangladesh; Brazil; Ethiopia; Morocco; Romania; Sudan
Reappraising normal - Designing to weather, climate, and climate change	Rio Tinto	Mining and Metals	Water resources; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	Australia
Climate resilient reconstruction	Royal Engineers and Consultants	Construction and Engineering	Oceans and coastal areas; Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	United States of America
Integrating adaptation into core business practices	SEKEM Holdings Group	Food and Beverages; Consumer Packaged Goods	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	Egypt
Working collectively to address the whisky industry's long-term risks	Scotch Whisky Association (SWA); Scotch Whisky Research Institute (SWRI)	Food and Beverages	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Water resources	United Kingdom
SkyHydrant Water Purification Technology	Siemens	Science and Technology	Water resources	Germany
Horn of Africa Risk Transfer for Adaptation (HARITA)	Swiss Re; Oxfam America	Financial Services	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	Ethiopia
Ensuring future supply of high-quality coffee	Starbucks Coffee Company; Conservation International	Food and Beverages	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	Mexico
Weather resilient boats	Tartari; Friendship	Agriculture (fisheries)	Oceans and coastal areas; Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Bangladesh
An ounce of prevention - Linking the interests of homeowners, business, and insurance providers	The Travelers Companies, Inc.	Financial Services	Oceans and coastal areas; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	United States of America
New insurance products and climate risk	HSBC	Financial Services	Business; Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	Brazil; United Kingdom
More resilient fibers to replace cotton	Naturally Advanced Technologies (NAT)	Science and Technology	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Canada
Meeting energy needs for climate-resilient development	Sunlabob	Energy and Utilities	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Lao People's Democratic Republic
"Bringing Water to Life"	Suntory Limited	Food and Beverages	Education and training; Terrestrial ecosystems; Water resources	Japan
Taking the uncertainty out of climate and weather for stakeholders	The Climate Corporation	Financial Services	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	United States of America
mKRISHI: Empowering rural farmers	Tata International Limited (Tata Consultancy Services)	Telecommunications	Education and training; Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Water resources	India
Investing in adaptation	Calvert Investments, Inc.	Financial Services	Business; Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Water resources	United States of America
Sustainable and climate resilient housing	CEMEX	Construction and Engineering	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements	Mexico
Information-based mobile applications for adaptation	China Mobile Communications	Telecommunications	Education and training; Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Terrestrial ecosystems; Water resources	China
Climate Change Adaptation Project (CCAP)	Intact Financial Corporation; University of Waterloo	Financial Services	Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Terrestrial ecosystems; Transport, infrastructure and human settlements; Water resources	Canada
Adapting to climate change by growing medicinal and aromatic plants	Fasiam Agro Farms; Jammu & Kashmir Medicinal & Aromatic Plants (MAP) Growers' Cooperative	Agriculture	Business; Education and training; Food security, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	India
Masdar City	WSP Group; Foster + Partners	Construction and Engineering	Transport, infrastructure and human settlements;	United Arab Emirates
Building reputations, securing resources: Teaming up for water conservation	The Coca-Cola Company (TCCC); The World Wildlife Fund (WWF)	Food and Beverages	Education and training; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Terrestrial ecosystem; Water resources	Thailand; Vietnam
Adapting to Climate Changes for Potato Production in The Andes	PepsiCo South America, Caribbean and Central America Foods	Food and Beverages	Water resources	Peru
Product solutions for a future of more constrained resources	Unilever	Consumer Packaged Goods	Water resources	United Kingdom
Aware for Investments- Climate Risk Screening Tool	Acclimatise	Information Technology Services; Consulting and Environmental Services	Business	United Kingdom
Climate change adaptation strategy for Kayonza Growers Tea Factory	CaféDirect	Food and Beverages	Food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Uganda
Help crops adapt to changing climates	BASF	Chemicals	Capacity building, education and training; Food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Science, asseessment, monitoring and early warning	Multiple
Provide seed treatment for more efficient resource use	Bayer	Chemicals	Capacity building, education and training; Food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Water resources	Germany
Creating business value through ecological stormwater management	Cook Composites and Polymers Co. (CCP)	Composites Resins	Capacity building, education and training; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Water resources	United States of America
Utilizing household wastewater in the large-scale	Dow	Chemicals	Water resources	The Netherlands
Adapt to local climate conditions and reduce impacts	Unilever	Consumer Packaged Goods	Capacity building, education and training; Food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Water resources	Kenya and Tanzania
Boosting crop yield for every drop of water	Syngenta	Agriculture	Capacity building, education and training; Finance and insurance; Food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Technology and Information & Communications Technology (ICT); Water resources	Switzerland
The Latin American Water Funds Partnership	Femsa Foundation	Food and Beverages	Capacity building, education and training; Finance and insurance; Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Water resources	Mexico
Green Infrastructure, Waste Water Recycling and Organic Waste Integrated Treatment System	Ecotelhado	Construction and Engineering; Water Management; Energy and Utilities	Water resources; infrastructure and human settlements	Brazil
ClimaGrid - Brazil	EDP Energias do Brasil	Energy and Utilities	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Infrastructure and human settlements	Brazil
Vivo Clima	Telefonica Brasil S.A.	Telecommunications; Water Management;	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Technology and Information & Communications Technology (ICT)	Brazil
Green Farm Project in Itaquira, MS, Brazil	Green Farm Administradora de Imaveis Rurais e Preservado Ambiental	Agriculture; Water Management	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning; Infrastructure and human settlements	Brazil
Bolsa Floresta Programme: Helping riverine communities in the Amazon	Bradesco Bank; Amazonas Sustainable Foundation; Amazonas State Government	Finance	Water resources; infrastructure and human settlements; Food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Brazil
Vulnerability assessment of the city of Goinia, GO, Brazil	Waycarbon	Consulting and Environmental Services	Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	Brazil
Integrated Biosystems applied in wastewater treatment of humid coffee processing plant	O Instituto Ambiental (OIA), State Street Nicaragua (SSN)	Consulting and Environmental Services	Energy, Food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, Terrestrial ecosystems, Transport, infrastructure and human settlements, Water resources	Dominican Republic
Conservation of forests and mangroves with economic diversification as a mean to adapt to climate change	Bunge	Agriculture; Food and Beverages; Water Management	Food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries	Colombia
Panama's Bay Wetlands Project for reducing the potential risk of flood around Airport areas	Copa Airlines	Transport	Oceans and coastal areas, Terrestrial ecosystems, Transport, infrastructure and human settlements, Tourism	Panama
Brazil Adapt Project: Building resilience in coastal areas	Ilhas do Brasil; Bovespa Environmental and Social Stock Exchange; HSBC Institute	Consulting and Environmental Services	Oceans and coastal areas, Science, assessment, monitoring and early warning	Brazil
Strategic initiatives of adaptation to CC make a small business agro-exporter sustainable as well as its value chain	Chiles de Nicaragua, S.A	Agriculture; Food and Beverages	Food, agriculture, forestry and fisheries; Water resources	Nicaragua