20 Engineering Recommendations for Climate Change Adaptation

From Infrastructure, Engineering and Climate Change Adaptation - Ensuring Services in an Uncertain Future by Engineering the Future (which is a broad alliance of the engineering institutions and bodies which represent U.K.'s 450,000 professional engineers) - -

1. Methods for prioritization of vulnerabilities in the infrastructure system are needed for effective planning.  There will be a need to distinguish between the short term effects of climate change, such as flash flooding, which in some situations may reluctantly have to be tolerated, and those that are sustained or persistent, such as rivers running low, where it may be more realistic to introduce counter measures economically.
2. There are many interdependencies between the infrastructure sectors and failure in one area can very quickly lead to cascade failure.
3. Multipurpose infrastructure will be more cost effective and could be more resilient.  When infrastructure developments are planned, additional uses should always be explored, such as reservoirs that can also act as flood defences.
4. Carbon reduction targets will also have a significant impact on the infrastructure, both in terms of technical requirements and user behaviour, and these should be modelled in tandem with the effects of climate change.
5. Regulatory changes are needed to develop and implement necessary adaptation plans.  In particular, regulations must be developed to deal with probabilistic rather than absolute scenarios.
6. The infrastructure should be dealt with as a system of systems.  Mechanism are required to enable Government to make strategic decisions about the infrastructure as a whole.
7. Standards should be adapted to allow resumption of a partial service after an emergency, where a full service is still unavailable.  For example, when water systems are affected, getting a non-potable water supply online should be prioritized if the resumption of portable supply is delayed, to provide water which can be used for washing and boiled for consumption, thus allowing some degree of normal functioning for home and business owners.
8. The expected impacts of climate change in the UK will lead to conditions no more extreme that those currently experienced and dealt with elsewhere in the world.  Technologies for adaptation exist in many of these locations, and given that many UK engineering firms, particularly within civil engineering, have worldwide experience, there are good opportunities to learn from both technologies and regulatory frameworks overseas,
9. While these are few technical barriers to adaptation, the cost of adapting fully whilst maintaining current levels of service is almost certainly unaffordable.  While some innovations can be adopted from overseas, engineers have a crucial role in identifying cost-effective technologies that are appropriate for the UK.
10. Building (and their occupants) need to be considered as part of the infrastructure system.  Buildings should be adapted to make them more resilient to extreme events.
11. Better network management is essential for resilience.  This can be supported by the roll out of a smart grid and smart meters, and the use of "intelligent pipework" in water.
12. Use of continuous monitoring to allow reactive and timely maintenance across all infrastructure can increase.  Sharing of this data for use in modelling infrastructure and scenario planning is of great value and should be facilitated, subject to security constraints.
13. Research and experiences from each sector need to be shared.  A catalogue of the key standards and process of coordination to being together the existing knowledge would be beneficial in supporting planning and investment more effectively.
14. There is a need for greater understanding of, and therefore research into, the behavioural changes which are likely as a result of climate change, within the context of changes in demographics and overall population levels.
15. Engineers need to develop further their ability to embrace probabilistic methods and flexible solutions, and to deal with complex risk scenarios.  The professional engineering bodies should lead on promoting and developing skills in systems thinking within the workforce.
16. More engineers, with skills to deal with complex infrastructure systems, will be needed to develop and implement adaptation measures.  Adaptation, mitigation measures, and the demands of a growing population and economy all make demands on engineering capacity.  There must be efforts both to balance these demands and expand capacity.  Developing engineering expertise in adaptation will create marketable engineering skills and solutions for export.
17. The changing climate may make the UK a more attractive and low risk location for business.  This presents an opportunity but also will increase demand on infrastructure and the need for resilient systems to provide continuous service.
18. There must be expectation management as effects of changing weather on the infrastructure may lead to degradation of service.  Improving resilience will come at a cost, and a completely robust infrastructure, if achievable, will cost considerably more.
19. Opening addressing the issue of achievable and affordable levels of service quality is essential to manage the public's expectations and to provide certainty for investment decisions.  Without certainty about the revised service levels, the private sector will be reluctant to invest and those investments that are made may be compromised
20. Extreme weather can affect infrastructure and services indirectly through peoples' behaviour and the advice they are given.  A better understanding of effects of weather on behaviour and appropriate advice to give in such situations is needed, with planning to deal with the impacts of such events on critical workers.