"We come away from this training feeling deeply enriched, both theoretically and practically."
Stéphane Barrault is Head of the Risk Prevention Consulting Division at Willis Towers Watson, one of France’s leading insurance brokers and a partner to its clients, supporting them on all risk-related issues. Climate change has significantly increased the frequency and intensity of natural disasters, forcing industries to adapt to protect themselves and requiring insurers and brokers to factor these risks into their services. It was in this context that Stéphane took the training course “Adapting Your Organization to Climate Change” in April 2025. Testimonial.
Adapting Your Organization to Climate Change
Can you tell us about your professional background before the training?
I began my career at Willis Towers Watson in 2014 in the consulting department, which consists of a team of risk prevention engineers, and I currently serve as a risk prevention engineer and a consultant specializing in Health and Safety. My role is to support companies in developing and managing their risk prevention policies.
Our clients are primarily manufacturers and companies across all industries, some of which may have multiple production sites in France and/or abroad. I work directly with site managers, risk managers, and safety officers. My risk assessments are very practical: the report I provide after examining the site must describe the site’s activities, the type of construction, the preventive measures and protective measures in place, and the compliance of the facilities with recognized standards. This analysis allows us to determine, among other things, the risk profile and insurability of a site.
What were your professional challenges at that time?
The issues surrounding adaptation to natural disasters and the interest of insurers have really begun to come to the forefront. Previously, during my fire prevention inspections, the aspect of prevention and protection against natural disasters wasn’t as thoroughly developed or explored as it is today: it’s truly an area that has gradually come to the forefront. Taking the training course “Adapting Your Organization to Climate Change” was therefore a personal decision on my part to understand current and future exposure levels—as modeled by the IPCC’s various scenarios—so that I can best support my clients.
On the insurance side, the demand to include natural disasters has also grown, as these events have caused significant damage—and thus costs—in recent years, pushing this risk to the top of the list. While insurers and brokers are equipped to map and assess their clients’ level of risk exposure, there is a need to take this approach a step further—even though the process is much less tedious than before, thanks to advances in IT and technology in these areas.
How did you find out about our program, and what made you decide to enroll?
I heard about Carbone 4 on a TV show, but I didn’t know the training organization existed. When I looked up available training programs online, I came across your website. I downloaded the detailed program, and the content seemed to match what I was looking for. Based on Jean-Marc Jancovici’s remarks, I suspected the training would be thorough and professional, which was quickly confirmed by the structure and content of the course.
What aspects of the training made the biggest impression on you?
Overall, the format was consistent with what I had read before signing up. I really appreciated the lively and dynamic format. The interactions with the other learners were very enriching, and everyone really got into it: people participated actively, asked questions, and showed a genuine interest in the course. That’s not always easy when the course is 100% online!
This training program is nothing like the mandatory training that some organizations require—such as cybersecurity or similar topics—; it is much more dynamic, despite the substantial amount of theoretical and practical content.
Did you find the teaching methods and tools provided helpful?
I found the OCARA tool to be quite well-designed, and the training enables any company to launch a risk analysis project in a well-structured manner.
I found the difficulty level to be just right. The review of key concepts at the beginning of each virtual class helped me get back into the swing of things and better absorb the material, and I appreciated that we focused on the essentials.
Although I was already familiar with a few online risk mapping websites, the training allowed me to discover about ten more that will surely be useful to me in my work.
What skills or knowledge did you gain from the training?
I gained a better understanding of the climate, the causes and consequences of climate change, the various scenarios and how they were developed, and adaptation options for businesses. Before the training, I had a rather vague understanding of the concept of adaptation because I was familiar with the exposure aspect but not with the development and implementation of an action plan.
The training also opened my eyes to the different forms a solution can take: while I used to focus mainly on technical solutions (such as building levees), I now realize that “social” solutions can be implemented (such as adjusting employees’ work schedules during heat waves), even though I’m not the one who enforces these organizational measures within organizations—my role is more at the macro level.
Have you been able to raise awareness or provide training to other colleagues on these topics?
Absolutely! I've shared the training materials and various documents provided during the training with all my colleagues, which allows us to centralize the data and align our knowledge within the group.
Who would you recommend this training course to, and why?
In my view, this training is aimed at two main audiences: CSR or environmental managers, on the one hand, who wish to address the topic of adaptation. The training will help them refine their big-picture perspective and learn how to use the OCARA tool. On the other hand, it’s for independent consultants who want to offer consulting services on adaptation and need a solid technical foundation to understand what it’s all about.
Finally, the third audience would be the one I belong to: people who do not need to apply the OCARA methodology directly but who want to learn more about physical risks, business resilience, and the next steps. Today, it’s fairly easy to determine the extent to which a business is exposed to risk. The most challenging part is the next step: what measures can be put in place to protect against these risks and adapt effectively? These are the questions the training addresses.
I highly recommend this training course to anyone who wants to better understand the various scenarios, the concept of climate hazards, and resilience. The training course “Adapting Your Organization to Climate Change” provides this deeper understanding; you’ll come away from it feeling greatly enriched, both theoretically and practically.