UNEP - Global environment outlook: businesses need to adapt to survive

Jan 27, 2025 | 3 min read

Table of Contents

Climate change is, rightfully, a constant and urgent topic of conversation. Here, we look at UNEP and their work. And we examine the current global environmental outlook from the context of preparation and climate adaptation for companies.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is the leading global authority on the environment. UNEP, formed over 50 years ago, works with governments, civil society, the private sector and UN entities. This work is carried out to address our most pressing environmental challenges - from protecting the world's seas to promoting a green, inclusive economy. Their Global Environmental Outlook is due later this year (here’s a timeline). As described by UNEP: “The Global Environmental Outlook (GEO) is a series of reports that review the state and direction of the global environment. It is a global process spearheaded by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at regional, national, and local levels all over the world. The process provides an assessment of the current state of the environment, an evaluation of the effectiveness of policies and actions taken to address environmental issues, and projections of future environmental trends.”

Companies, of course, play a part in education and implementation of climate-friendly practices. Let’s start by differentiating between decarbonization and climate adaptation. Ideally, your company should already be working towards decarbonisation. This can be done by:

  • Using electric vehicles in your fleet
  • Facilitating remote or hybrid working to reduce commuters’ carbon footprint
  • Reducing work-based travel (especially air travel) by opting for remote meetings
  • Using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels
  • Reducing your water footprint (we have a host of ideas on how to do this in our Water Hub) 
  • Using only recycled paper, and only print when absolutely necessary
  • Investigating packaging to find compostable/recyclable options
  • Investing in climate-offset activities, by (for instance) investing in forestry charities and programs

Climate adaptation, on the other hand, is when companies adapt to account for climate change, as issues such as unpredictable weather, storms, power cuts and floods threaten various strands of business.



Organizations, big and small, should be making provisions for contingencies. For a start, a business should be weather emergency-ready and have plans in place for when storms break (to use one case).

Here are some examples :

Data centres use up about 1% of energy demands worldwide, with that number expected to soar in coming years. These buildings are not immune to the consequences of climate change, and some have been flooded in storms (including some in the 2023 storm in Brazil’s Porto Alegre). Climate-ready data centres would have robust flood-protection, be evenly distributed across different regions, and have renewable energy backup.

In data centres and beyond, it’s useful for companies to have access to their own power. Investment in solar and wind energy, ideally to source backup energy, reduces dependence on the grid.

Some forms of transport are especially vulnerable to climate disruption. So, look into rail and sea transport, for instance, so you’re not entirely dependent on air or road infrastructure.

If possible, it helps to have an infrastructure in place whereby staff can work remotely at short notice.

At Allianz, sustainability is at the core of our enterprise and rooted in our purpose. By embedding sustainable practices into every decision and investing in a net-zero economy, we’re not just addressing the impacts of climate change – we're empowering our clients and communities to thrive.

With an added focus on SDG 8 - decent work and economic growth - we integrate social considerations into our organization, our business areas, and our corporate citizenship activities. We do this through our own initiatives and - in line with our commitment to SDG 17, partnerships for the goals - through active participation in various partnerships from global U.N.-backed initiatives to collaborations with regional NGOs and local charities.

You can expect conversations like this to ramp up in the leadup to International Day of Clean Energy, on January 26th. As the United Nations reports: “The International Day of Clean Energy on 26 January was declared by the General Assembly as a call to raise awareness and mobilize action for a just and inclusive transition to clean energy for the benefit of people and the planet. January 26th is also the founding date of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), a global intergovernmental agency established in 2009 to support countries in their energy transitions, serve as a platform for international cooperation, and provide data and analyses on clean energy technology, innovation, policy, finance and investment.”

At Allianz, we’re invested in maintaining a safe, healthy environment for our company and clients, wherever they are. For information on how to create a culture of environmental engagement, we have a blog about environmental wellness in the workplace.

And if you’d like to know about our international health insurance, feel free to get in touch today.