Climate change is no longer a distant threat; its impacts are being felt now through more frequent and intense extreme weather events. To protect communities and ensure long-term sustainability, it’s critical to build climate-resilient infrastructure. This involves implementing construction standards that account for the effects of climate change, making infrastructure capable of withstanding these challenges.
Why Climate-Resilient Construction Standards Are Essential
* Protection Against Climate Risks: Climate-resilient infrastructure is designed to withstand and adapt to increased temperatures, changing precipitation patterns, rising sea levels, and more frequent and intense extreme weather events[3].
* Economic Stability: Building with resilience in mind minimizes disruptions to essential services and reduces long-term repair and recovery costs[3].
* Adaptability and Flexibility: Resilient infrastructure can respond to changing climate conditions and future uncertainties[3].
Implementing Climate-Resilient Construction Standards
1. Climate-Informed Codes: Building codes are commonly mandated through regulations to govern infrastructure development for safety[1]. Different climate parameters or ‘climate design values’ are used to inform updates to codes[1]. For example, the National Model Codes in Canada are reviewed and updated every five years to remain relevant[1].
2. Standards Development: Standards define design and operation requirements throughout the lifecycle of infrastructure and buildings, including during design, construction, operation, rehabilitation, and decommissioning[1].
3. Risk Assessment: Conduct climate risk and vulnerability assessments (CVRA) to identify potential hazards and prioritize mitigation measures[2].
4. Adaptation Solutions: Implement adaptation solutions that substantially reduce the most important risks, favoring nature-based solutions and consistency with local adaptation strategies[2].
5. Climate Data and Projections: Use climate data, projections, and assessments to inform decision-making, design, and planning[3]. For high-value projects, assess design parameters against future climate conditions coinciding with the end of the infrastructure’s design life[3].
6. Flood-Resilient Strategies:
* Select project locations outside the 100-year floodplain, or mitigate flood risk through design[3].
* Build to floodproof standards, such as elevation above the 200-year floodplain level or structural interventions allowing rapid service resumption after a 200-year flood[3].
7. Wildfire Resilience: Implement best practices for wildfire-resilient home construction, renovation, and landscaping[3].
8. Permafrost Degradation: For infrastructure on permafrost, follow standards such as CSA S501:21, CSA PLUS 4011:19, and CAN/BNQ 2501-500[3].
Key Considerations
* Climate Hazards: Identify climate hazards for risk screening[2]. Examples of climate-smart guidance to increase infrastructure and community resilience include standards by climate hazard and types of infrastructure assets[1].
* Adaptability and Flexibility: Infrastructure should be adaptable and flexible, with redundancy measures like backup systems to respond to changing climate conditions[3].
* Collaboration and Engagement: Involve collaboration and engagement with various stakeholders[3].
Overcoming Barriers
* Funding: Secure funding from government, private investments, and international organizations[3].
* Regulatory Updates: Update building codes and regulations to account for future climate risks[1].
* Education: Increase awareness and understanding among stakeholders regarding climate resilience[3].
By focusing on climate-informed codes, robust standards, comprehensive risk assessments, and innovative adaptation strategies, communities can build infrastructure that not only withstands the impacts of climate change but also promotes long-term sustainability and resilience.
Read More
[1] https://housing-infrastructure.canada.ca/climate-resilience-climatique/codes-standards-normes-guidances-eng.html
[2] https://susproc.jrc.ec.europa.eu/product-bureau/sites/default/files/2023-04/Technical%20Guidance%20adapting%20buildings.pdf
[3] https://media.fcm.ca/documents/resources/guide/gmf-factsheets-planning-climate-resilient-infrastructure.pdf
[4] https://www.unep.org/resources/practical-guide-climate-resilient-buildings
[5] https://gca.org/reports/stocktake-of-climate-resilient-infrastructure-standards/
[6] https://www.c40knowledgehub.org/s/article/Climate-change-resilience-in-the-built-environment-Principles-for-adapting-to-a-changing-climate?language=en_US
[7] https://www.umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/479/publikationen/cc_51-2022_climate_resilient_infrastructure_systems.pdf
[8] https://www.bpie.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Towards-a-climate-resilient-built-environment.pdf