The Hoffmann Centre will welcome Simon Zadek, Founder and Managing Partner of Morphosis, Geneva, for a academic workshop on Adaptation Economics Shaping Markets to Meet Adaptation in a Climate Impacted Future. Drawing on years of work at the intersection of sustainability, finance, and public policy, Dr. Simon Zadek will explore how adaptation economics can help shape markets to meet the growing challenges of a climate-impacted future. The workshop will examine the economic conditions needed to unlock investment in adaptation solutions, mobilize private capital at scale, and support businesses in responding to rapidly changing climate risks. Drawing on the work of Morphosis and experiences from Brazil, Asia, and the European Union, the discussion will offer practical insights into building resilient and inclusive economies capable of meeting the adaptation needs of the coming decades.
About THE workshop
Adaptation is more than making infrastructure more resilient, it requires very different enabling economic conditions to catalyse businesses meeting changing adaptation needs and crowd in private capital enabling them to scale and deliver affordable, accessible, adaptation solutions. For example, Ursula von Leyen in her State of the Union speech on 16th September said: “Europe (must become) the champion in adaptation technologies a huge emerging market whether drought resistant crops, flood prevention, or energy efficient cooling, Europe is already a leader and we must capture this market.”
This session will discuss these enabling economic conditions, drawing on the work of Morphosis, including its adaptation economics policy framework and sovereign index, and initial applications in Brazil, Asia and the EU.
About the Speaker
Simon Zadek is a Managing Director of Morphosis and one of the world's leading thinkers on sustainable finance, climate policy, and systems change. Over the past three decades, he has advised governments, international organizations, financial institutions, and businesses on advancing sustainability and resilience through market transformation. His work has focused shaping the policies, institutions, and financial mechanisms needed to address global challenges, including climate change, sustainable development, and economic inclusion. Previously, he held leadership roles at organizations including the United Nations, the Work Economic Forum, and the Global Green Growth Institute. Through his current work at Morphosis, he is pioneering new approaches to adaptation economics, helping countries and markets mobilize investment and scale solutions to meet the growing challenges of a climate-impacted future.