ESG 23 Final Single pages - Flipbook - Page 79
Physical climate change
Time horizon
Risks
Opportunities
Short-term
Changes in temperature and increased severity
of extreme weather conditions are already being
experienced as a result of climate change. The
risks associated with this include increased
energy consumption and associated carbon
emissions from systems and disruptions in
accessing facilities. RWS is mitigating this risk by
o昀昀ering agile working options and investigating
energy e昀케ciency improvements at its o昀케ces.
Responding to Covid-19 has demonstrated that
remote working is a viable option. Enhancing the
remote working opportunities for RWS colleagues
across the globe will improve resilience to climate
change weather impacts by enhancing agile
working 昀氀exibility.
Medium-term
Some RWS locations are at risk of acute physical
climate changes events, such as 昀氀ooding.
Continuing to investigate ways in which RWS can
improve productivity aligns with the carbon net
zero strategy.
To mitigate this, our climate-related risk strategy
includes increasing investment in IT infrastructure
and the promotion of di昀昀erent working styles e.g.
remote. This allows more 昀氀exibility and ensures
the level of service remains the same despite any
restrictions caused by climate change.
Long-term
RWS recognises that climate change will increase
the severity and frequency of extreme weather
events, potentially causing localised disruption
to supply chains and networks. To mitigate this,
the RWS long-term climate-related risk strategy
includes reviewing the location of o昀케ces and
improving the resilience of its current estate
portfolio, software testing labs and recording
studios.
Not only are site locations considered as part of
the RWS long-term business strategy, but also
their energy performance. By operating from
energy e昀케ciency buildings, our scope 1 and 2
carbon emissions will reduce signi昀椀cantly.
Chronic physical events represent both
a medium- and long-term risks. RWS is
investigating ways to limit its exposure to
damaging chronical physical events, with a focus
to build business continuity into its o昀케ce network
and supply chain through a responsible suppliers
network.
FRAMEWORKS RWS Holdings plc — ESG Report 2023
79
