Balancing Legal Duties with Climate Action: How Businesses Can Lead In Climate Resilience and Disaster Preparedness

By Susana Kausea

Pacific Island nations stand as guardians of our shared ocean, yet they face some of the world’s toughest climate challenges. Businesses have the power to be more than bystanders. By acting responsibly and boldly, companies can help communities prepare, adapt, and thrive. Here’s how to make that impact count:

1. Understand and Comply with National Laws

Businesses must first become fully aware of and adhere to the specific national laws related to disaster management. For example, in Tuvalu, this includes the National Disaster Risk Management Act and its accompanying regulations. These legal frameworks clearly define the roles and responsibilities for multi-sector coordinating efforts, preparing for potential disasters, and responding effectively when emergencies occur. Compliance ensures that companies operate within legal boundaries and contribute constructively to national disaster resilience.

2. Integrate Climate Risk into Business Planning

Companies need to proactively assess how climate change could affect their operations, physical infrastructure, and supply chains. This means conducting thorough climate risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and potential disruptions. Based on these findings, businesses should develop continuity plans and disaster response strategies that align with both national policies and local community preparedness efforts. This integration helps businesses reduce risks and maintain operations during climate-related events.

3. Collaborate with Government and Communities

Building strong partnerships with government agencies and local communities is critical. Collaboration enables joint planning for disaster preparedness and response, ensuring efforts are coordinated and efficient. Supporting community-led initiatives, such as local adaptation projects, by contributing resources or expertise helps strengthen resilience at the grassroots level and fosters trust and mutual support.

4. Comply with Environmental and Land Regulations

Businesses must comply with laws governing environmental protection, including waste management and sustainable land use practices. Additionally, it is essential to respect customary land tenure systems, a cornerstone of identity and livelihood in Pacific Island cultures. Ignoring these systems can lead to social conflict and undermine community relationships, so companies should engage respectfully with customary landowners and incorporate traditional land rights into their operational planning.

5. Contribute to Resilience Through Innovation and Capacity Building

Companies can play a proactive role by offering climate-resilient products or services that help communities adapt to changing conditions. Investing in training and employment opportunities, particularly in green sectors or disaster-resilient industries, empowers local people and builds long-term capacity. This not only strengthens the community but also creates a more sustainable workforce and economy.

Additional Corporate Obligations for Climate Resilience and Disaster Preparedness

6. Climate and Environmental Risk Disclosure

Transparency is key. Companies should publicly disclose their climate-related risks and environmental impacts, following internationally recognized standards like the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) or equivalent national standards and requirements. This openness builds investor and stakeholder confidence and drives accountability for reducing climate risks.

7. Support for Sustainable Resource Use

Responsible use of water, energy, and natural resources is essential to avoid putting further pressure on fragile island ecosystems. Businesses should implement practices that minimize waste and conserve resources to help preserve the environment that communities depend on.

8. Green Supply Chains

Supply chain management must also embrace sustainability. This involves sourcing materials responsibly, minimizing carbon emissions, and working only with suppliers who adhere to strong environmental standards and risk-reduction measures. Green supply chains reduce the overall environmental footprint of business operations.

9. Align with Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs)

Companies should actively support their host country’s climate commitments under international agreements like the Paris Agreement. This could involve efforts to reduce emissions, increase the use of renewable energy, and implement climate-smart operational practices that contribute to national climate goals.

10. Insurance and Risk Transfer

To maintain business continuity, companies need adequate disaster insurance coverage. Additionally, participation in or support for regional risk-pooling mechanisms, such as the Pacific Catastrophe Risk Insurance scheme, can provide financial protection against large-scale disasters, spreading risk and improving recovery capacity.

11. Transparency and Accountability

Maintaining strong Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) reporting is important for demonstrating how the business meets its climate-related responsibilities and goals. Transparent documentation helps stakeholders understand the company’s commitment and progress in climate adaptation and disaster preparedness.

The key takeaways

By aligning with national laws, adopting climate-smart practices, and embracing ethical, transparent business models, companies operating across the Pacific can become key partners in regional climate resilience. The private sector must not only comply with regulations but also lead by example in supporting communities facing the frontline impacts of climate change.

Businesses play a critical role in supporting Pacific Island nations to prepare for and respond to climate change and natural disasters. To operate responsibly and contribute meaningfully to resilience-building, contact us for further advice.