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John  Firth,  CEO  and  Co-­‐founder  

 

Personal  Profile  

John   has   extensive   experience   of   integrating   climate   change   into   decision-­‐making   and   risk  

management  processes,  working  with  national  and  regional  governments  and  some  of   the  world’s  largest  companies,  banks,  pension  funds  and  insurers.    He  has  particular  expertise  in  the  impacts  of  climate  change  on  the  water,  energy,  oil  and  gas,  insurance,  investment  and  legal  sectors.      

John   founded   Acclimatise   in   2004.     He   focuses   on   integrating   climate   change   into   corporate  governance   and   risk   management   procedures   at   the   Board   room   level,   and   providing   technical  guidance   and   advice   on   asset   management,   investment   and   financial   appraisal   to   project   level  

decision-­‐makers.     John’s   work   with   Acclimatise   has   seen   the   publication   of   the   first   Carbon  Disclosure  Report  entirely   focused  on  adaptation   (The  adaptation   tipping  point:  are  UK  businesses  climate-­‐proof?  2006).  The  ground  breaking  project  he  led  for  the  Association  of  British  Insurers  (The  

financial  risks  of  climate  change,  2005)  demonstrated  how  climate  science  can  be  integrated  within  existing  decision  making  processes  to  calculate  the  future  costs  of  extreme  events.      

John   works   with   politicians,   civil   servants,   directors   and   senior   managers   of   some   of   the   world’s  

largest   companies,   governments   (national,   regional   and   local),   banks   (including   the   World   Bank,  International   Finance   Corporation,   European   Bank   for   Reconstruction   and   Development   and  Barclays),  pension  funds  and  insurers  on  assessing  and  managing  climate  risks  across  their  portfolios.  

John   has   worked   on   climate   change   adaptation   in   Europe   (UK,   Netherlands,   Germany,   Belgium,  Russia),  Middle   East   (Abu  Dhabi),  Africa   (Ghana,   South  Africa),  Asia   (Tajikistan,   Kazakhstan,  Nepal,  Pakistan),   North   and   South   America   (Canada   and   Colombia)   and   the   Caribbean.   He   provided  

technical  advice  to  both  the  ACCC  and  SPACC  in  the  Caribbean  and  was  invited  by  the  UK  F&CO  to  brief   senior  civil   servants   from  the  Commonwealth  states   in  November  2008  on   risk  management  and  developing  climate  resilience.  

Prior  to  founding  Acclimatise,  John  led  strategic  business  planning  for  Severn  Trent  Water  and  has  28  years  experience  in  the  water  industry.    During  this  time  he  held  senior  management  positions  with  Severn   Trent   Water   including   strategic   business   planning   with   overall   responsibility   for   water  

resource,   water   treatment   and   distribution,   sewerage   and   sewage   treatment   planning,   financial  appraisal  and  defining  the  strategies  to  drive  over  £4billion  of  asset  investment.    He  was  responsible  for   assessing   climate   change   impacts   on   the   company’s   water   resources   and   his   work   on   urban  

drainage   impacts   alerted   the   UK   industry   to   the   risks   for   urban   sewerage   systems.     He   was   also  responsible   for   all   liaisons   between   the   company   and   spatial   planning   authorities,   securing   all  

company  planning  permissions  (over  1,000)  and  EIAs.  

John  has  been  involved  with  and  led  UK  regional  and  sectoral  climate  change  partnerships.    He  is  a  member  of  the  Defra/UKCIP  Advisory  Group.    John  was  a  member  of  the  UK  Government  Advisory  

Committee  on  Business  in  the  Environment  (ACBE)  Sustainable  Development  working  group.  He  has  briefed  UK  Government  Cabinet  Ministers  on  climate  change  and  business.      

John  is  a  trained  facilitator  and  has  run  many  climate  change,  asset  management  and  environmental  

issue  workshops.  He  has  developed  and  led  capacity-­‐building  exercises.  He  has  published  numerous  

         

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articles  in  professional  journals  and  appeared  as  a  speaker  at  conferences  throughout  the  world  on  

water,  environmental  issues  and  climate  change.    

John  holds  a  BSc  in  Urban  Land  Economics,  a  postgraduate  diploma  in  Urban  and  Regional  Planning  and  is  a  member  of  various  professional  institutions.  

Contact  details  

 

Acclimatise,  Hexgreave  Hall,  Farnsfield,  Newark,  Nottinghamshire,  NG22  8LS,  UK  

Tel:   +44  (0)  1623  884347  

Mobile:  +44  (0)  7769  706184  

Fax:     +44  (0)  1623  700234  

Email:   j.firth@acclimatise.uk.com    

Nationality:   British  

Experience  and  achievements  

 

2004  –  present      CEO  and  co-­‐founder,  Acclimatise  

Selected  project  experience:  

Development  of  an  Implementation  Plan  for  the  Regional  Framework  for  Achieving  Development  Resilient   to  Climate  Change,  Caribbean  Community  Climate  Change  Centre  and  CARICOM  (2010  –  2011)  

The   Caribbean   Community   (CARICOM)   member   states   are   working   towards   the   successful  deployment   of   the   ‘Regional   Framework   for   Achieving   Development   Resilient   to   Climate   Change’  that  was  approved  by  the  Heads  of  Government  in  2009.  The  Caribbean  Community  Climate  Change  

Centre  (CCCCC)  has  been  asked  by  CARICOM  to  develop  the  Implementation  Plan  for  the  framework.  With   the   help   of   funding   from   the   Climate   Development   Knowledge   Network   (CDKN)   and   DFID  Caribbean,   the   CCCCC   has   enlisted   the   services   of   Acclimatise   to   help   construct   an   effective  

Implementation  Plan.  The  Plan  will  detail  how  the  regional  framework  is  to  be  implemented  across  different   sectors.   It   is   focussed   on   delivering   transformational   change   to   build   resilience   to   the  adverse  affects  of  climate  change  on  the  most  at  risk  sectors:  energy,  agriculture,  fisheries  and  food  

security,  water  resources,   tourism,  coastal  and  marine  resources  and  human  health;  and  to  create  low   carbon   economies.     The   plan   emphasises   the   need   for   partnership   building   between  governments,  regional  organisations,  the  private  sector,  civil  society,  international  donors  and  IFIs  to  

ensure   that   transformational   change   can   be   achieved.   The   IP   was   successfully   completed   and  endorsed/approved  by  the  CARICOM  Council  of  Ministers  with  responsibility  for  Trade  and  Economic  Development  (COTED)  in  September  2011,  with  a  recommendation  to  the  Heads  of  Government  for  

acceptance  at  their  next  meeting.  

         

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Climate  change  risk  assessment  and  strategy,  City  of  Moscow  Government,  Russia  (2008-­‐2010)    

Acclimatise   supported,   guided  and  advised   the  City  of  Moscow  Government  and   four  other  major  Russian   cities   (St   Petersburg,   Samara,   Rostov   on   Don,   Yekaterinburg)   as   they   assess   the   risks   of  climate  change  and  develop  adaptation  and  mitigation  strategies.  The  project  developed  a  dialogue  

with   other  major   urban   areas   including   London,   focusing   on   the   practical   steps   cities   can   take   to  manage  the  impacts  of  inevitable  climate  change  and  reduce  emissions.  This  project  was  funded  by  the  UK  Foreign  and  Commonwealth  Office.  

Climate  change  risk  assessment  and  management  for  a  hydropower  facility,  Nepal,  IFC  (2007-­‐2009)  

Acclimatise  was  commissioned  by  the  IFC  to  identify  and  assess  the  risks  that  climate  variability  and  climate  change  poses  to  three  IFC  large  fixed  asset  projects,  examining  four  areas  of  performance  of  

the   investments   that   could   be   affected   by   climate   change,   namely   engineering,   environmental,  social  and   financial  performance.  One  of   the  projects  was  a   run-­‐of-­‐river  hydropower   facility   in   the  Himalayas.  Acclimatise  has  assessed   the   impacts  of   climate  change  on   the  power  output   from  the  

facility,   for   a   range   of   climate   models   and   greenhouse   gas   emission   scenarios.   Based   on   this  assessment,   Acclimatise   worked   with   the   facility   owners   and   the   IFC   to   identify   and   evaluate  appropriate  adaptation  measures  to  manage  the  risks.  This   involves  perturbing  the  financial  model  

for  the  facility  to  take  account  of  climate  change  impacts  and  adaptation  interventions.    

Climate   change   and   shareholder   value:   the   adaptation   imperative,   Universities  Superannuation   Scheme,   Hendersons   Global   Investors,   Railpen   Investments,  Insight  Investment  (2009)  

The   client   consortium  wanted   to   understand  how   four   key   sectors   (oil  &   gas,   energy,   commercial  

property  and  water)  will  be  affected  by  a  changing  climate.    The  project  highlighted  why  and  how  companies   in   those   sectors   should   mainstream   adaptation   into   their   strategic   and   operational  decisions.   It  explained  how   the  need   to  adapt   (or   failure   to  adapt)  has   the  potential   to   impact  on  

shareholder   value.   It   also   identified   the   information   on   climate   change   risks   and   adaptation   that  companies   need   to   provide   to   investors,   so   that   they   can   incorporate   these   issues   into   their  valuation   models.     One   of   the   key   objectives   of   the   project   is   to   provide   a   basis   for   investor  

engagement   with   companies   on   their   strategic   risk   management   and   disclosure   of   adaptation.    Acclimatise   as   part   of   this   project   has   set   up   an   investor   resource   centre   on   its   website   at  http://www.acclimatise.uk.com/resources/investors.  

Climate   impacts   risk   assessment   methodology   (CIRAM),   UK   Ministry   of   Defence  Estates  (2009)  

Acclimatise  was  commissioned  by  the  Defence  Estates  to  develop  a  methodology  to  enable  the  MoD  to   assess   and   manage   the   risks   of   climate   change   for   the   operation,   management   and   future  

development   of   its  major   bases   and   property   assets   in   the  UK.     The   project   developed   four   pilot  studies  that  looked  at  the  impacts  of  climate  change  in  different  areas  of  the  UK,  and  identified  site  specific   risk  management  measures.   Based   on   lessons   learned   from   the   pilot   studies,   Acclimatise  

developed   an   MOD-­‐specific   risk   identification   and   scoring   methodology,   known   as   the   Climate  

         

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Impact  Risk  Assessment  Methodology  or  CIRAM.  The  methodology  was  designed   to   integrate   into  

MOD’s   existing   risk   assessment   and  management   processes.     CIRAM   is   being   implemented   across  priority  MOD  establishments.  

Climate   change   and   business   risks,   Carbon  Disclosure   Projects   sponsored   by   IBM  (2009)  

The   Carbon   Disclosure   Project   (CDP)   represents   the   world's   largest   institutional   investor  collaboration  on  the  business  implications  of  climate  change.  The  CDP  process  involves  institutional  investors  who  collectively  sign  a  single  global   request   for  disclosure  of   information  on  greenhouse  

gas  emissions  from  the  FT500  largest  companies  globally.    

Following  on  from  the  report  prepared  by  Acclimatise  and  UKCIP   in  “The  Adaptation  tipping  point:  are  UK  businesses  climate  proof?”   for   the  4th  CDP   information  request.  Acclimatise  prepared   four  

reports,  sponsored  by  IBM,  using  information  from  the  6th  CDP  information  request:  

� FTSE  350  

� Global  oil  and  gas  companies  

� Global  energy  companies  

� Global  mining  and  metals  companies  

The  reports  reviewed  the  responses  by  companies  of  the  risks  posed  to  their  business  by  a  changing  

climate,  and  the  adaptation  measures  undertaken  to  safeguard  assets  and  operations.    

Future  proofing  business  decisions,  E.ON  UK  (2008-­‐09)    

E.ON  UK  commissioned  Acclimatise  to  develop  its  climate  change  adaptation  strategy,  with  the  aim  of   future-­‐proofing   its   business   for   inevitable   climate   change.   The   project   developed   internal  

awareness  of  adaptation  issues  across  the  group.    

The  project  involved:  

� Developing  climate   risk  and  adaptation  case  studies   specific   to  each  of  E.ON’s   six  business  

units:   corporate,   generation,   retail,   central   networks,   business   services,   and   environment  services,  

� Collaborative  working  between  Acclimatise  and  E.ON  staff  to  develop  adaptation  strategies  

for  each  of  the  six  business  units  and  an  overall  company-­‐wide  strategy.  

Climate  change  and  the  Caribbean:  strengthening   the  science-­‐policy   interface,  UK  Foreign  and  Commonwealth  Office  (2008-­‐09)  

Acclimatise  was  commissioned  by  the  British  High  Commission  in  Barbados  and  the  FCO  to  provide  a  

detailed  briefing  to  the  Permanent  Secretaries  of  11  Caribbean  States  on  the   integration  of  climate  change  into  policy  setting  and  decision  making  for  critical  assets  and  infrastructure.  

Climate  change  and  business  opportunities,  Association  of  British  Insurers  (2007)  

In   2007   the   Association   of   British   Insurers   (ABI)   released   a   major   research   report,   “Insuring   our  

future  climate:   thinking   for   tomorrow,   today”  prepared  by  Acclimatise,  with  support   from  Futerra.    

         

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The  report  explores  the  business  opportunities  for  insurers  in  responding  to  the  impacts  of  climate  

change  on   their  domestic   and  commercial   customers.     The   report,   for  example,   indicates   that   the  premium  value  for  the  UK  commercial  renewable  energy  markets  could  range  from  £450  million  to  £1.33  billion  by  2020.    It  also  explores  the  role  insurers  can  take  in  encouraging  changes  in  behaviour  

and  attitudes  by  their  customers,  in  relation  to  climate  change  mitigation  and  adaptation.  

Assessment   of   the   climate   change   risks   faced   by   a   group   of   assets   including   a  power  station,  gas  and  oil  pipelines  and  an  oil  production  platform,  BP  (2006)  

The   assessment   covered   risks   during   the   assets’   operating   life   and   de-­‐commissioning   phase.    

Recommendations  were  made  to  the  client  regarding  changes  to  operating,  asset  maintenance  and  monitoring   regimes,   and  data   collection.   This   included  advice  on  how   to   integrate   climate   change  risks  into  environmental  management  systems  and  health  and  safety  procedures.  

Climate  change  risk  assessment,  Association  of  British  Insurers  (2005)    

The   Association   of   British   Insurers   (ABI)   commissioned   Acclimatise   to   assess   the   costs   of   climate  change   on   natural   catastrophe   insurance   and   the   resultant   impacts   on   financial   markets.       A  

comprehensive  review  of  all  available  industry  and  academic  research  was  undertaken.  

The  report  (‘financial  risks  of  climate  change’)  was  released  at  a  conference  on  the  29th  June  2005  hosted  by   the  ABI  and  attended  by   the  Secretary  of  State   for   the  Environment,  Margaret  Beckett.    

The   conference   brought   together   for   the   first   time   senior   representatives   of   leading   insurance  companies   from   around   the   world   to   discuss   the   implications   of   climate   change   for   insurance  markets.      

This   ground-­‐breaking  work   focused   on   the   potential   impacts   of   changing  weather   costs   on   global  capital   requirements   for   the   insurance  and   reinsurance   sectors.     Even  quite   small   increases   in   the  intensity   of   major   storms   (hurricanes,   typhoons,   windstorms),   as   predicted   by   the   latest   climate  

change  science,  could   increase  damage  costs  by  at   least  two-­‐thirds  by  the  end  of  the  century.  The  most   extreme   storms   could   become   even   more   destructive,   making   insurance   markets   more  volatile,  as  the  cost  of  capital  required  covering  such  events  increases.  

The   report   is   now   used   as   a   standard   reference   source   by   financial   correspondents,   insurance  companies,  and  research  institutions.  

2000-­‐2004    Strategic  Planning  Manager,  Severn  Trent  Water  Ltd  (STW)  

Responsibilities  

� Integrating  climate  change  into  mainstream  company  decision  making.  

� Stakeholder  management  with  EU,  UK  Government  departments,  the,  Environment  Agency  (EA),   local   authorities,   Regional   Assemblies,   Regional   Development   Agencies   on   all   issues  

relevant  to  climate  change,  strategic  business  planning  and  investment  planning.  

� Develop,  implement,  monitor  and  review  investment  and  operational  strategies  for  all  water  

and  waste  water  activities.  Responsible  for  all  abstraction  licensing,  planning  permission  and  related  land-­‐use  consents,  and  supporting  EIA  and  HIAs.  

         

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� Develop   company’s   position   on   UK   Common   Framework   Methodology   (released   by   the  

Director  General  for  Water  Services  OFWAT)  for  the  maintenance  of  and  investment  in  the  

company’s  assets.  

� Advisor   to   the  Company’s  Board  of  Directors  on  emerging  strategic   issues,   their   impact  on  

business  objectives,  and  strategic  and  project-­‐level  responses.  

� Developing   robust   strategies   to   lead   and   support   the   company’s   5   year   investment  

programmes.  

� Long-­‐term   water   resource   planning,   resource   optimisation   and   development,   drought  

contingency  planning,  demand  forecasting  and  leakage  control.  

� Providing   a   sewerage   and   water   modelling   service   for   the   Company   for   operational   and  

investment  purposes.  

� Preparation   and   submission   of   regulatory   information   for   OFWAT,   the   Drinking   Water  

Inspectorate  (DWI)  and  the  EA.  

� Development  of  STW's  e-­‐business  strategy.  

Achievements  

� Further  development  of   the   company’s   climate   change   strategy,   commissioning  numerous  

research  projects.  Undertaking  a  comprehensive   impacts   review.     Identifying  priority  areas  

and   developing   investment   and   operational   management   responses   with   full   financial  analysis.  

� Technical  advisor  to  the  Caribbean  States  (CPACC)  on  climate  change.    Development  of  a  risk  

assessment  process  to  assess  and  manage  the  impacts  of  climate  change  on  the  Caribbean’s  social,  economic  and  environmental  systems,  strategies  and  projects.  

� STW  Project  Manager  for  West  of  Scotland  Water’s  Asset  Management  Plan.    This  included  a  review  of  climate  change  impacts  and  the  implications  for  capital  and  revenue  expenditure.  

� Director  Midlands  Environmental  Business  Club  Ltd.  

� Member  of  the  Defra/UK  Climate  Impacts  Programme  Advisory  Group.  

� Member  of  the  UK  Government  Advisory  Committee  on  Business  in  the  Environment  (ACBE)  

Sustainable  Development  Working  Group  advising  on   climate   change  and  business  and  on  the  disclosure  of  forward  looking  statements  on  risks  by  companies.  

� Member  of  the  Professional  Liaison  Panel,  De  Montfort  University,  Leicester  

� Member   of   the   UK   Institute   of   Chartered   Accountants   Environmental   Steering   Group  providing  specific  guidance  on  the  effect  of  climate  change  on  business.      

1976  –  2000  Waste  Water  and  Environmental  Strategies  Manager,  Planning  and  Environmental  Assessment  Manager,  Regional  Planning  Manager,  (all  Severn  Trent  Water  Ltd)  Planning  Liaison  Officer,  Severn  Trent  Water  Authority  

         

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Responsibilities  and  achievements  

� Provide   a   sewerage   and   water   modelling   service   for   the   Company   for   operational   and  investment  purposes.  

� Preparation  and  submission  of  regulatory  information  for  OFWAT,  DWI  and  the  EA.  

� Strategy   input   into   company   strategic   business   plan   for   submission   to   industry   regulator  

(OFWAT).  

� Responsible  for  all  abstraction  licensing,  planning  permission  and  related  land-­‐use  consents,  and  supporting  EIAs.  

� Develop,  implement,  monitor  and  review  investment  and  operational  strategies  for  all  waste  water  activities.  

� Developed   a  GIS   based   cryptosporidium   risk   assessment  meeting   the   requirements   of   the  

1999  UK  regulations.  

� Development   and   implementation  of   a   sludge  management   strategy   guiding   £60m  capital  

investment  expenditure.  

� Developed  and  implemented  a  nuisance  management  strategy  for  STW  assets.  

� Managed  a  project  to  produce  an  internal  risk  assessment  methodology  for  land  owned  by  

the  Company  which  may  fall  within  the  scope  of  the  Contaminated  Land  Regulations.  

� Developed  the  use  of  an  environmental  management  system  to  ISO  14001  for  a  major  waste  

water  site,  involving  contaminated  land  issues  and  a  waste  management  licence.  

� Development  of  integrated  climate  change  studies  for  the  water  industry.  

� Project   Manager   for   the   West   Midlands   Climate   Change   Impact   Study   (part   of   the   UK  

Climate   Impacts   Programme,   UKCIP)   and   project   team   member   for   the   East   Midlands  Climate  Change  Impacts  Study.  

� Development   of   STW’s   GIS-­‐based   system   providing   information   on   environmental   issues,  

site   based   information   for   project   appraisal,   design   and   construction,   and   external  consultation  management.  

� Led   the  Company’s   response   to  a   Judicial  Review  by  NGO  examining   the  grant  of  planning  

permission  for  the  refurbishment  of  Ladybower  Dam  (review  withdrawn).  

� Developed   a   GIS   based   population   and   demand   forecasting   system   using   pioneering  

techniques.  

� Developed  an  environmental  management  system  for  a  major  construction  site.  

� Report  on  catchment  management  for  Rand  Water,  South  Africa.  

� Chair  STW’s  Sustainable  Development  Focus  Group.  

� Develop,   implement   and   communicated   (internal   and   external)   Company   policy   on  

Infrastructure  Charges.  

         

8  

� Population  and  demand  forecasting  inputs  into  Strategic  Business  Plans.  

� Pioneered   the   use   of   legal   agreements   to   secure   contributions   for   the   provision   of   new  

infrastructure  to  meet  the  needs  of  development.  

� Project  manager  for  the  first  EIA  undertaken  by  a  UK  water  company.  

� Produced  STW/local  authority   'Consultations  Procedure'  which  was  used  as  a   template   for  

similar  procedures  used  by  the  Environment  Agency  and  other  water  companies.  

� Manage  and  issue  Land  Drainage  Act  consents.      

� Provide  guidance  to  developers  and  local  authorities  on  the  provision  of  water  and  sewerage  services  for  new  development.      

1974  –  1975   Planning  Assistant,  Lincoln  City  Council  

Responsibilities  and  achievements  

� Sandwich   placement   year   from   college.     Land-­‐use   planning   development   control   and  

development  plan  work.  

 

EDUCATION  

 

Postgraduate  Diploma  Urban  and  Regional  Planning  (1980)  

� Sheffield  Polytechnic  

B.Sc.  (Hons)  Urban  Land  Economics  (1976)  

� Sheffield  Polytechnic    

 

PROFESSIONAL  AFFILIATIONS  

� Chartered  Town  Planner  –  Member  of  the  Royal  Town  Planning  Institute  (MRTPI)  

� Fellow  of  the  Royal  Society  of  Arts,  Manufactures  and  Commerce  (FRSA)  

� Member  of  the  Society  of  Petroleum  Engineers  

 

AWARDS  

� 2001  Royal  Town  Planning  Institute  Sustainable  Development  

� 2000  Utility  Week  Awards  'Environment'  (shortlist)  

� 1999  Severn  Trent  Water  Environment  Awards  

� 1998  Utility  Week  Awards  ‘Outstanding  Individual  of  the  Year'  (shortlist)  

� 1997  Utility  Week  Awards  'Environment'  (shortlist)  

         

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Selected  publications  and  conference  presentations  

 

John   has   had   many   articles   published   in   various   professional   and   trade   publications.     He   has  presented   at   conferences   throughout   Europe,   Africa   and   the   Caribbean.     Further   details   can   be  provided.  

Boyd,  R,  Firth,  J.  Hunt,  A.  and  Hutchins,  A.  (2005).  ABI  Project:  The  Financial  Risks  of  Climate  Change.  Acclimatise  and  Metroeconomica,  Southwell,  UK.  

Connell,  R.  and  Firth,  J.  (2006).  ESPACE  Project:  Analysis  of  partner  actions.  Acclimatise  and  Climate  

Risk  Management  Limited,  Southwell,  UK.  

Firth,   J.   and   Colley,   M.   (2006).   The   Adaptation   Tipping   Point:   Are   UK   Businesses   Climate   Proof?  Acclimatise  and  UKCIP,  Oxford.  

Firth,   J.   and   Hutchins,   A.   (2006).     The   Isle   of   Man   Climate   Change   Scoping   Study.   Acclimatise,  Southwell,  UK.  

Connell,   R.,   Firth,   J.,   Hutchins,   A.,   and   Shea,   L.   (2007).   ABI   Project:   Insuring   Our   Future   Climate:  Thinking  for  Tomorrow,  Today.  Acclimatise  and  Futerra,  Southwell,  UK.