Climate Risk and Adaptation

Climate risk, resilience and adaptation

Complex climate-related interactions in the built environment

Windows

Climate change increases overheating risk

» Glazing seals fail quicker with more heat and humidity

» More glass means hotter temperatures

Roof spaces

UK annual roof maintenance and repair costs mean that wind damage rivals flooding in terms of expense

» Increased wind speeds

» Increased rainfall erodes tiles faster

Interiors

Heat and humidity affect indoor climate

» Need for cooling adds to electricity costs

» Heat and precipitation increase humidity, perfect conditions for mould

» Electrical equipment in basements or roofs are vulnerable to water damage

Materials

Climate change accelerates deterioration of materials

» Brick, stone: increases in rain and temperature means faster weathering

Structure

Chronic issues often relate to moisture

» More driving rain escalates water penetration into vertical walls. Walls dry slower with more humidity

» Wood rots faster with greater heat and rain

» Stronger winds spread corrosive salt-spray further in coastal locations

» Warmer temperatures cause climate zones containing damage-causing insect populations like termites to expand

» Concrete: increases in temperature, rainfall and humidity damage steel within concrete, weakening structure

» Plastic: rising temperatures break down polymers (thermal aging)

» Metal: heat and humidity speed up corrosion

» Need for stronger, lighter and more durable materials drive up cost

Layout

The external environment can be greatly affected

» Open layouts expose materials to increased driving rain

» Tall buildings are more vulnerable to increasing winds speeds Access

Climate change will increase the frequency and intensity of storm events

» Access routes affected by surface water flooding

» Wind microclimate no longer safe for pedestrians

Foundations

Climate change increases subsidence risk

» Clay soil absorbs water, causing ground to rise and structures to lift

» Rising temperatures reduce soil moisture; dry soil hardens and shrinks

» Thawing permafrost sinks, damaging buildings

» Sea-level change raises water table and makes it more corrosive

» More precipitation means increased periodic basement flooding

Framework to understand risk

Physical risks

In August 2021, the UKGBC launched: ‘A Framework for measuring and reporting of climate-related physical risks to Built Assets’, - the only industry-accepted guidance to explicitly guide organisations through risk analysis at asset level for physical risks.

A

systematic approach across 5 stages:

Initial information

Assessing baseline risk from physical hazards

Assessing future risk from physical hazards

Assessing overall risk rating

Disclosure (physical risk) or adaptation planning

Our approach to climate risk and resilience

CLIENT MANAGING ASSETS

High level recommendations to mitigate risks and build resilience

Climate risk assessment to understand and prioritise physical risks

Technical design support for implementation

Detailed engineering assessment/ cost–benefit analysis to aid decision makers

CLIMATE RESILIENT ASSETS

Three-stage response

Climate Risk and Vulnerability Assessment Information gathering

Climate Risk and Resilience Reporting

This approach supports adaptation responses that are evidence-based, proactive and iterative.

At project level we:

» Gain a detailed understanding of assets, functions and users as a baseline.

» Assess the likelihood and impact of physical climate risks to built assets and infrastructure for a range of future climate scenarios.

» Prioritise assets/locations that are most vulnerable and to which risks – short, medium and long term.

» Provide site/asset specific adaptation recommendations for development or design input.

Outputs

Risk register

Climate Risk and Resilience Report (inc. adaptation recommendations)