World Environment Day provides an opportunity to reflect on how organisations are responding to climate change.
For many years, organisational climate strategies have focused largely on mitigation. Emissions reduction, environmental performance, sustainability reporting, and stakeholder expectations have shaped the way many organisations approach climate-related issues.
These priorities remain important. However, a new challenge is emerging.
How prepared are organisations to adapt to a climate that is already changing?
Climate adaptation focuses on how organisations prepare for, respond to, and build resilience against the impacts of a changing climate.
The publication of ISO 14090, Adaptation to Climate Change — Principles, Requirements and Guidelines, and the recent release of ISO/PAS 45007, Occupational Health and Safety Management — Risks Arising from Climate Change and Climate Change Action, reflect a growing recognition that climate adaptation is becoming an important issue for many organisations.
As organisations face increasing climate-related risks, these standards offer a framework for building resilience, managing uncertainty, and integrating climate considerations into decision-making
Australian organisations have already experienced the operational impacts of bushfires, floods, heatwaves, and severe storms. Around the world, changing weather patterns, rising temperatures, resource pressures, and disruptions to supply chains are affecting the way organisations operate.
The impacts of climate change are prompting organisations to consider not only environmental responsibilities, but also how changing conditions may affect operations, people, assets, and strategic objectives.
As a result, building resilience is becoming an important organisational capability.
From mitigation to adaptation
Much of the discussion around climate change has focused on reducing future impacts.
For some organisations, climate-related efforts have centred on emissions reduction, environmental performance, sustainability reporting, and compliance obligations. While these activities remain important, they address only part of the challenge.
Increasingly, organisations are being challenged to consider how they will respond to climate impacts that are already occurring and those that may intensify in the years ahead.
The challenge is no longer limited to understanding climate-related risks. Organisations must also determine how those risks could influence decision-making, investment priorities, operational planning, workforce well-being, and long-term organisational performance.
This represents an important shift. The conversation is evolving from how organisations can help address climate change to how organisations can continue to operate effectively in a changing climate.
Planning for an uncertain future
Climate adaptation requires organisations to look beyond historical trends and consider how future conditions could affect operations, assets, people, and strategic objectives.
This may involve asking questions such as:
- Will our facilities remain suitable under future climate conditions?
- Could critical suppliers be affected by climate-related disruptions?
- Are emergency response arrangements adequate for more frequent severe weather events?
- How might workforce wellbeing and productivity be affected by changing environmental conditions?
- What climate-related risks could affect our ability to achieve strategic objectives?
These questions require organisations to think beyond compliance and consider long-term resilience.
Climate change and ISO management systems
The increasing focus on climate adaptation is reflected in the evolution of ISO management systems standards.
In 2024, ISO introduced amendments across a range of management system standards, including ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001. Organisations are now expected to consider whether climate change is a relevant issue within the context of their management system and whether interested parties have climate-related requirements.
The publication of ISO 14090 and ISO/PAS 45007 provides further guidance on how organisations can respond.
ISO 14090 focuses on adaptation
ISO 14090 provides a framework for organisations to assess vulnerabilities, consider future climate scenarios, identify adaptation measures, and integrate resilience into planning and decision-making.
Unlike many climate-related initiatives that focus primarily on reducing environmental impacts, ISO 14090 focuses on adaptation.
Importantly, ISO 14090 recognises that adaptation is not a one-off activity. It is an ongoing process that requires organisations to monitor changing conditions and continually review their response.
For organisations seeking to strengthen resilience, the standard provides a structured approach to understanding what climate adaptation means in practice.
ISO/PAS 45007 extends the conversation
The publication of ISO/PAS 45007 demonstrates that climate adaptation is extending into other management disciplines.
The guidance addresses occupational health and safety risks arising from climate change and climate-related actions, recognising that changing environmental conditions can create new challenges for workers and workplaces.
Rather than treating climate change solely as an environmental issue, ISO/PAS 45007 encourages organisations to consider how changing conditions may affect worker health, safety, and well-being, and whether existing controls remain effective.
The guidance reinforces a broader message that adaptation is not only about protecting assets, infrastructure, and operations. It is also about protecting people.
Implications for organisations
Taken together, the ISO climate amendment, ISO 14090, and ISO/PAS 45007 point towards a common theme. Climate-related considerations are increasingly being integrated into management systems rather than treated as standalone environmental issues.
For organisations, this means considering how climate-related risks and opportunities are assessed, how adaptation measures are incorporated into planning and business continuity arrangements, and whether existing management systems remain fit for purpose in a changing climate.
Questions every organisation should be asking
As climate adaptation becomes a greater organisational priority, leaders should consider whether their current management systems, risk processes, and planning activities are equipped to respond.
Some useful questions include:
- Have we assessed how climate change could affect our operations, people, assets, and supply chains over the next five to ten years?
- Are climate-related risks and opportunities being considered within our existing management systems?
- Do our business continuity and emergency preparedness arrangements reflect the likelihood of more frequent or severe climate-related events?
- Have we identified vulnerabilities that could affect our ability to deliver products or services?
- Are climate considerations influencing strategic planning and investment decisions?
- Do we have the capability to adapt as conditions continue to change?
As we mark World Environment Day, perhaps the most important question is not whether climate change will affect organisations, but whether organisations are ready to adapt.
RTP – Helping organisations meet their environmental responsibilities with ISO 14001
Our Introduction to ISO 14001 eLearn provides a solid foundation for understanding the essential elements of an environmental management system. This 45-minute, self-paced eLearn covers the key principles and requirements of ISO 14001, equipping you with the knowledge to understand and contribute to sustainable environmental practices within your organisation.
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Our 2.5-day Environmental Management Systems course offers a practical understanding of the individual requirements of the ISO 14001 Environmental Management Systems standard.
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Explore our range of Environmental Management Systems courses
Further reading
Read more about the ISO 14001:2026 – is it a risk maturity test?.
Find out why ISO 14001 is essential for environmental management and sustainability.
Learn how ISO 14001 can help businesses meet their environmental responsibilities.
