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Climate change preparedness of enterprises in the Upper Rhine region from a business perspective—A multidisciplinary, transboundary analysis

Klimawandel-Anpassungsbereitschaft von Unternehmen in der Oberrhein-Region aus Sicht der Unternehmen – Eine multidisziplinäre, grenzüberschreitende Analyse

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Abstract

Companies can be affected by climate change in many ways. Effective adaptation to climate change will only be possible if the associated risks and opportunities as well as their own strengths and weaknesses are sufficiently known. Following the conceptual framework of a SWOT analysis, this article outlines the self-perception of companies from the Upper Rhine region regarding their climate change vulnerability. Based on 26 qualitative semi-structured company interviews, managers’ statements on climate change-related strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats are divided into three categories based on the business function concerned. The resulting 4 × 3 matrix is used to analyse which aspects companies do not pay much attention to. We also highlight typical, frequently cited strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. It appears that the majority of companies perceive climate change as an external threat but see themselves in a position to counter this threat with the help of internal qualities.

Zusammenfassung

Unternehmen können auf vielfältige Weise vom Klimawandel betroffen sein. Nur wenn die damit verbundenen Risiken und Chancen sowie die eigenen Stärken und Schwächen hinreichend bekannt sind, ist eine effektive Anpassung an den Klimawandel möglich. Dieser Artikel skizziert in Anlehnung an den Konzeptrahmen einer SWOT-Analyse die Eigenwahrnehmung von Unternehmen aus der Oberrheinregion bezüglich ihrer Klimawandelvulnerabilität. Basierend auf 26 qualitativen semi-strukturierten Unternehmensinterviews werden Aussagen von Managern bezüglich klimawandelrelevanter Stärken, Schwächen, Chancen und Bedrohungen anhand der betroffenen Unternehmensfunktion in drei Kategorien aufgeteilt. Anhand der entstehenden 4 × 3 Matrix wird analysiert, welche Bereiche von den Unternehmen wenig beachtet werden. Außerdem zeigen wir auf, wie typische, häufig genannte Stärken, Schwächen, Chancen und Bedrohungen aussehen. Es zeigt sich, dass die Unternehmen den Klimawandel mehrheitlich als externe Bedrohung wahrnehmen, sich aber in der Lage sehen dieser Bedrohung mit Hilfe von internen Qualitäten zu begegnen.

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Notes

  1. According to the influent Greenhouse Gas Protocol scope 3 emissions are emissions that are not directly emitted by the company but by contractors (except energy provision which is scope 2). It is optional to report scope 3 emissions (Smith 2004).

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Acknowledgements

This research was carried out as a part of the project Clim’Ability financed by INTERREG V. We thank our colleagues Lena Berger and Max Bergman from the University of Basel for their valuable ideas concerning the methodology of analysis. Great thanks to all interviewees and their companies who made this work possible. We further thank two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments to improve the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. iES Landau, Institute for Environmental Sciences, University of Koblenz-Landau, Fortstraße 7, 76829, Landau, Germany

    Paul Averbeck & Oliver Frör

  2. ICube—INSA Strasbourg, 24 Boulevard de la Victoire, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France

    Nathalie Gartiser

  3. Department of Social Science, University of Bâle, Petersgraben 27, 4051, Basel, Switzerland

    Nadja Lützel

  4. Insa de Strasbourg, 24 bd. de la Victoire, 67084, Strasbourg Cedex, France

    Florence Rudolf

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  1. Paul Averbeck
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  2. Oliver Frör
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  3. Nathalie Gartiser
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  4. Nadja Lützel
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  5. Florence Rudolf
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Correspondence to Paul Averbeck.

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P. Averbeck, O. Frör, N. Gartiser, N. Lützel and F. Rudolf declare that they have no competing interests.

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Averbeck, P., Frör, O., Gartiser, N. et al. Climate change preparedness of enterprises in the Upper Rhine region from a business perspective—A multidisciplinary, transboundary analysis. NachhaltigkeitsManagementForum 27, 83–93 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00550-019-00485-x

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