Companies must look to the future in the face of climate change

When it comes to futures studies, we are not just talking about researching trends in innovation and consumer behavior. The discipline also includes strategic planning for possible scenarios, whether positive or negative. The difference is that, as philosopher Hans Jonas proposed, it is better to think of the worst so that, at least, we are prepared.

In this sense, climate change is no longer a topic confined to politics but, unfortunately, also to catastrophic events such as this year's floods in Rio Grande do Sul. Equally unfortunate is the fact that this is not an isolated incident, neither in Brazil nor in the rest of the world.

The United Nations refugee agency has long considered the issue of climate migrants or refugees. In fact, research cited by the agency estimates 20 million people being forced to migrate every year due to climate events. These migrations mainly (and disproportionately) affect marginalized populations, hence the concept of climate racism.

Climate racism, also known as ecological or environmental racism, is not only about how climate events affect marginalized populations. The term also covers government and corporate decisions that can negatively affect a region or territory inhabited by these groups — for example, where (and how) waste is disposed of, or where materials are extracted.

In Brazil, environmental racism becomes evident when we think about gentrification (which became a global topic with the arrival of Airbnb) and construction projects that force people to move — as happened during the 2014 World Cup in Rio de Janeiro. In the Amazon, the way illegal mining harms Indigenous communities is another example of environmental racism that shows racial and ethnic disproportionality.

So when futures studies address the climate issue, the approach is indeed preventive and strategic. At the same time, however, researchers must keep an eye on what is happening now and on what has been recorded in the past. 

Adopting this future-oriented perspective in the corporate context, therefore, is not only about reacting to disasters or specific data. Replacing plastic packaging because of data on ocean contamination by microplastics is no longer (or at least shouldn't be) a differentiator, but the bare minimum. What's new is companies that also consider specific populations and issues.

In Canada, Ecojustice is one of the largest NGOs focused on environmental law, working on issues such as environmental racism, plastic pollution and the extinction of endangered species and their habitats. In 2022, for example, they won a case against ExxonMobil over offshore oil and gas projects.

RAVEN (Respecting Aboriginal Values and Environmental Needs) has also been raising funds for Canadian Indigenous peoples, helping them with various legal issues involving the impact of mining and fossil fuel extraction on their communities. 

In 2020, RAVEN supported a motion to protect the Teztan Biny region, where the local Indigenous community fishes. After a decade of conflict and negotiations with the mining company Taseko, the Supreme Court of Canada ruled in favor of Teztan Biny, preventing the construction of open-pit mines.

Another example is the French startup Finres, which has been developing solutions that help farmers adapt their production to the climate changes already underway. The company analyzes producers' risks, makes investment recommendations and creates an optimized strategy to avoid the need for loans due to climate-related problems (such as droughts or floods).

The floods in Rio Grande do Sul, in turn, affected not only residents of urban areas but also rural producers. Rural areas in an estimated 478 cities suffered severe losses, with production facilities and crops completely destroyed by the water. According to Emater-RS, 206,000 properties were affected.

With this in mind, the Gerdau Johannpeter family, together with the Gerdau company, began creating a Philanthropic Fund to support the Regeneration of the State. RegeneraRS is open to project proposals in the areas of education, housing, business and urban solutions. UP Lab is proud to contribute impact strategy and communication to Instituto Helda Gerdau and to the B Corp Din4mo, the creators of the fund.