Climate Resilient Infrastructure: Preparing for a Changing Climate

Alongside the transition to a low carbon society, increasing infrastructure’s resilience to climate change impacts is a high priority to help protect the economy and its future growth. This document has been produced as a response to calls from industry – infrastructure owners, investors and insurers – for a Government vision and policy on adapting infrastructure to climate change. It is designed to catalyse action to adapt infrastructure in the energy, ICT, transport and water sectors (infrastructure networks). It makes the case for action, identifies who needs to act, the challenges to acting and the opportunities available. Recognising that infrastructure is largely private sector funded and operated, it sets out how Governments can assist others in realising an infrastructure network able to adapt to the impacts of climate change. The document highlights important themes such as: the risk climate change presents to infrastructure interdependencies; adaptation investment; and potential economic opportunities. The document is linked to wider UK Government work on infrastructure, in particular the Government’s National Infrastructure Plan. In addition, the UK Government’s first Adaptation Programme in 2012 will report on progress made and what further actions might be required to increase the climate resilience of infrastructure.