Infrastructure

Our infrastructure is an increasingly interconnected network of high-value assets with long operational lifetimes. The existing stock of bridges, roads and power stations is already vulnerable to today’s extreme weather.  The Government has prioritised the need to address the risks climate change presents to infrastructure, and specifically to improve the long-term resilience of new and existing infrastructure networks in the energy, ICT, transport and water sectors.

Risks

• Increased flooding may affect a significant proportion of infrastructure. Increased summer temperatures may lead to heat related damage and/or disruption to energy and transport networks.
• Changes in water availability, particularly reductions in the summer, may lead to a need for demand control measures, affecting the public, businesses and industry.
• Increased subsidence and landslip in some areas may affect sections of the transport network.

Opportunities

• Milder winters may reduce cold weather related damage, delays and disruption and associated costs for infrastructure providers, businesses and the public.
• UK based infrastructure operators, consultancies and investors may have opportunities to capitalise on global climate change adaptation activity.

Many organisations within the infrastructure sector were asked to prepare Adaptation Reports, setting out how climate risks impact on their organisational objectives and the steps they are taking to adapt to them.  See adaptation reporting power tab for further information.

In developing the National Adaptation Programme we want to work collaboratively with wider stakeholders to consider our collective response to these risks and opportunities.

Questions

• Do you feel that your organisation understands how future climate and weather risks may (or may not) affect its performance? Is this a problem?
• In your organisation, what do you feel is the most urgent action needed to adapt to the risks identified in the CCRA? You can also include international climate impacts feeding through to the UK where you think these relevant.
• If you think that your organisation needs to do more to adapt, what is stopping you?  To what extent do you think your organisation/sector can do what is needed without Government intervention?
• Do you have examples of innovative ways of assessing your resilience or adapting to our current and future climate, which you would be happy for us to share with similar organisations and sectors?
• Is your organisation aware of any potential opportunities presented by climate change? What is your organisation doing to make the most of any opportunities?  Please also cover any opportunities arising from international climate impacts.

Comments

1. Bob says:

   16 February, 2012 at 10:07 pm

   My business is trying to source all products locally, within a 20 mile radius. This decreases oil consumption and enhances resilience to problems with infrasturucture

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