Corporate Climate Change Adaptation Supplier-of-Suppliers Sustainability Project (3CA3S Project)
Deep Dependencies Transparency as a Foundation for European Climate Resilience
Revealing hidden climate risks through deep-tier supply chain mapping as a foundation for European climate resilience
The Challenge: Invisible Risks in Deep Supply Chains
The stability of the European economy is increasingly threatened by climate-related and geopolitical risks that are often invisible, occurring "upstream" in the deeper tiers (Tier 2 and 3) of global supply chains.
- 01
Geographical Distance of Risks
Climate and geopolitical shocks typically happen outside the EU, beyond direct Tier 1 partners.
- 02
Systemic Cascade Effects
These cross-border risks create systemic, domino effects that transmit through complex supply networks.
- 03
Structural Intransparency
Critical dependencies and "Single Points of Failure" are often hidden in deep tiers located in climate-sensitive regions.
- 04
Missing Data Basis
A systematic, deep-tier risk analysis fails due to a lack of interoperable identifiers, such as incompatible local tax numbers, which prevent a holistic view of the network.
Regulatory Context
The European Commission is moving towards a standardized approach to climate resilience planning, aiming to establish a uniform "Common Reference Scenario" based on a 3°C global warming trajectory (which translates to approximately 4°C for the European continent due to faster regional warming). (ESABCC, 2026) (Responsible Investor, 2026)
3CA3S operationalizes this policy direction by providing the necessary supply-chain visibility: without interoperable deep-tier mapping, climate resilience planning and due-diligence obligations remain impossible to execute across the real upstream network.
A Three-Stage Approach
The project proposes a comprehensive three-stage approach to build climate resilience:
- 01
Global Identity and Interoperability
- Implement the LEI Standard: Integrate the Legal Entity Identifier (LEI) standard into corporate supplier guidelines. (GLEIF, 2026)
- Cascading: Consistently transfer this LEI requirement from the Tier 1 level down to Tier 2 and Tier 3 suppliers to overcome data fragmentation.
- 02
Digital Sustainable Supply Chain Network Overview (Mapping)
- Geographical Visualization: Build a coherent digital overview (mapping) of the entire Tier 2/3 network using the global ID data.
- Hotspot Identification: Analyze regional concentration risks and geopolitical exposure, such as high flood-risk areas.
- 03
Targeted Multi-Tier Climate Risk Analysis
- GeoPrecise 3°C-Scenarios: Conduct location-specific climate risk analyses and 3-degree stress tests for the critical nodes identified outside the EU.
- Proactive Adaptation Strategies: Develop targeted measures to minimize production losses and prepare for upcoming EU regulations like the CSDDD.
