Adapting business to a changing climate is essential for the success of companies. This means identifying not only risks but also opportunities that can lie in new business models or clean transition solutions. According to the latest survey conducted by Häme Chamber of Commerce, many companies in the region have taken action on climate change to meet the emission reduction targets, but only a few recognize business opportunities (Hämeen kauppakamari 2025).
Different approaches to this issue were brought into the open at a themed afternoon for local companies in May 2025. The “Companies in a Changing Climate” event brought together businesses in the Päijät-Häme region to discuss climate change-related risks and share good practices for successful adaptation.
Local companies are already facing risks of the changing climate
The opening speech was held by Climate Specialist Tuukka Rautio from the National Climate Unit of the Centre for Economic Development, Transport and the Environment (ELY Centre). He emphasized that, to survive, companies’ adaptation to climate change is a must. According to Rautio, adapting to climate change should be an integral part of companies’ risk management and innovation activities. It is also expected that, in the near future, climate change will increase companies’ repair, maintenance, and investment costs. However, the most expensive thing for companies is inadequate and reactive adaptation. (Rautio 2025.)
The comments from local business representatives emphasized the need for industry and company-specific adaptation. The representatives also pointed out that the impacts of climate change are often indirect and cascading, making them difficult to predict.
Executive Director Markus Honkanen from Teerenpeli, a company that provides restaurant and brewery services, emphasized the importance of contract terms in adapting to the indirect impacts of climate change and disruptions in the supply chains. Over the past three years, the company has already experienced several supply disruptions to raw materials critical to its business. (Honkanen 2025.)
Head of Production and Sales Arto Asikainen from Visit Lahti predicted that changing climate can bring new business opportunities to the tourism industry, for example through “coolcations”, where people travel from high temperatures to cooler climates. At this stage, however, it is still difficult to assess whether the phenomenon will turn into a new trend. It is certain that climate change is already affecting consumer behavior, but the impact is difficult to predict, and the behavior may often be illogical. (Asikainen 2025.)
Climate change affects everything from work culture to insurances
The good news is that companies are not alone in their adaptation efforts. For example, ELY Centres offer support for different industries to adapt to climate change in Finland. Rautio also highlighted the importance of different risk-sharing methods, such as insurance, for companies. (Rautio 2025.)
Arto Teittinen from LAB University of Applied Sciences presented various insurance options for companies to cover climate risks. At present, the granting of insurance for climate reasons has not ceased in Finland. However, it is likely that climate change will have an impact on insurance supply, prices, and conditions in the near future. (Teittinen 2025.)
One of the climate risks that can be realized in Finland soon is the increase in the frequency and severity of heat waves. As Erika Tapaninen from LAB brought up during her presentation, this may have an impact also on companies, for example through changes in work culture. It can also be possible that savings in heating costs from mild winters may be spent on maintaining tolerable working conditions during the summery heat waves. (Tapaninen 2025.)
The “Companies in a Changing Climate” event was organized by the Häme ELY Centre, in collaboration with the ClimateGO project. Their next step in promoting climate change adaptation can be seen in the fall, when the message will be addressed to municipal decision-makers.
Authors
Heli Kamaja works as a Communication Specialist in the ClimateGO project at LAB University of Applied Sciences.
Hanna Suutari works as an RDI Specialist at LAB University of Applied Sciences and helps companies adapt to climate change through awareness raising.
References
Asikainen, A. 2025. Comments. Speech at the “Companies in a Changing Climate” event on 27 May 2025.
Honkanen, M. 2025. Comments. Speech at the “Companies in a Changing Climate” event on 27 May 2025.
Hämeen kauppakamari. 2025. Hämeessä yritykset ovat tarttuneet ilmastotoimiin, mutta liiketoimintamahdollisuuksia ei vielä tunnisteta. STT Info. Cited 6 Jun 2025. Available at https://www.sttinfo.fi/tiedote/71120724/hameessa-yritykset-ovat-tarttuneet-ilmastotoimiin-mutta-liiketoimintamahdollisuuksia-ei-viela-tunnisteta?lang=fi
Kamaja, H. Teemailtapäivä. Cited 6 Jun 2025. Available at https://lab.fi/fi/projekti/climatego-pathways-climate-smart-governance
Rautio, T. 2025. Yritysten sopeutuminen ilmastonmuutokseen. Miksi ilmastonmuutokseen sopeutuminen on keskeistä yritykselle? Speech at the “Companies in a Changing Climate” event on 27 May 2025.
Tapaninen, E. 2025. Sään ääri-ilmiöihin sopeutuminen Päijät-Hämeessä. Speech at the “Companies in a Changing Climate” event on 27 May 2025.
Teittinen, A. 2025. Ilmastonmuutokseen sopetuminen Etelä-Karjalassa. Speech at the “Companies in a Changing Climate” event on 27 May 2025.
