New research set to revamp resilient supply chain strategies with Canadian Businesses

Waterloo Climate Institute researchers will co-develop tools with businesses that accelerate climate adaptation and strengthen international supply chains.

As seen with the COVID-19 pandemic and a rise in climate-related extreme weather events, supply chains are vulnerable to global disruptions. A new research study involving Canadian businesses, trade support organizations and international organizations, will pioneer the development of multi-hazard adaptation and disaster risk reduction tools. This initiative, led by the Waterloo Climate Institute, will build capacity in businesses and support organizations to recognize, plan for, and invest in climate adaptation both domestically and in the Global South.

Awarded $300,000 from Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program, this project promises to drive action by deploying tailored tools developed with and for businesses, building organizational capacities, identifying complementary skills, and understanding risks. The impact will be felt by Canadian businesses who, with the support of the tools created through the project, will be able to enhance foresight and planning for adaptation. “We will be mapping and revealing existing knowledge and resources along supply chain relationships to harness the information, skills and financial resources to develop multi-organization adaptation strategies and invest in long term adaptation processes.” Dr. Jose DiBella, Principal Investigator, Waterloo Climate Institute.

L-R: Dr. Jose DiBella, Principal Investigator, Waterloo Climate Institute; Nahuel Arenas, Chief of UNDRR - Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean; Prof. Sarah Burch, Co-Principal Investigator, Canada Research Chair in Sustainability Governance and Innovation, Executive Director, Waterloo Climate Institute.

The project will be implemented in partnership with the United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction of the Americas and the Caribbean (UNDRR), the Trade Facilitation Office of Canada (TFO) and the Private Sector Alliance for Disaster Resilient Societies ARISE Canada. The partners will provide technical support to businesses and trade organizations engaged in international supply chains in Canada, Latin America and the Caribbean. The project will engage the Canadian government departments and NGOs investing in adaptation who provide finance options for companies exporting to Canada, including women-led companies.

Canadian businesses and communities are facing increasing risks and uncertainty from a changing climate. This work aims to build resilience along supply chains so that we can anticipate risk, adapt, and advance toward a more sustainable, inclusive economy.

Prof. Sarah Burch, Co-Principal Investigator, Canada Research Chair in Sustainability Governance and Innovation, Executive Director, Waterloo Climate Institute

Project participants will co-create roadmaps featuring visual representations of segments of supply chains. The roadmaps will help identify and assess shared disaster risk and innovation opportunities across business partners. The roadmaps will run alongside the co-creation of a training curriculum for Canadian businesses to aid in understanding and planning for climate and disaster risks in the Global South, featuring multi-hazard climate disaster risk matrices that help businesses better understand risk and strengthen good governance of climate risk.

A comprehensive compendium of technical and non-technical practices for adaptation and disaster risk reduction will be developed, offering concrete activities for integrating shared risks into business processes and planning for long-term supply chain resilience.

“Investing in disaster risk reduction is not just a necessity but a strategic move towards sustainable development. By building resilient supply chains, businesses can ensure continuity, protect livelihoods, and contribute to global stability” emphasized Nahuel Arenas, Chief of UNDRR - Regional Office for the Americas and the Caribbean.

The project employs a systems approach to explore supply chains, revealing relationships and shared risks between Canadian businesses and their international suppliers. By identifying future climate risks and opportunities for adaptation, it will test innovative research and capacity-building methods to enhance resilience.

As highlighted in the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, investing in disaster risk prevention and reduction is essential for building resilience. Public and private investments in both structural and non-structural measures enhance the economic, social, health, and cultural resilience of communities and the environment. These measures are cost-effective, save lives, prevent losses, and ensure effective recovery, while also driving innovation, growth, and job creation.

For more information, please contact, Dr. Jose Di Bella, Principal Investigator at jose.dibella@uwaterloo.ca

This project is supported by Natural Resources Canada’s Climate Change Adaptation Program.