Climate Change: A Threat to Our Infrastructure
To mitigate the impacts of climate change on infrastructure, it is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit future climate change.
Climate change poses a significant threat to global infrastructure. As greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, leading to increased global temperatures and more extreme weather events, our roads, bridges, buildings, and energy systems are becoming increasingly vulnerable.
One of the most immediate and visible impacts of climate change on infrastructure is rising sea levels and coastal erosion. As oceans warm and expand, coastal cities and towns face increased risks of flooding and erosion, which can damage or destroy homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure. Without adaptation, global flood damage costs from sea level rise could soar to $14 trillion annually by 2100 for a median sea level rise of 0.86 meters, and potentially up to $27 trillion annually for a 1.8 meter rise.
Climate change is intensifying extreme weather events, such as storms, which can cause widespread damage to infrastructure. Intense storms bring high winds that can damage or destroy buildings, roads, and power lines. For instance, recent analysis of Hurricane Milton revealed that climate change increased wind speeds by 10%, resulting in a 45% increase in economic damages.
Flooding is one of the costliest consequences of climate change. In England and Wales alone, annual flood damage costs are estimated at £1 billion, with potential increases to £27 billion by 2080 if emissions continue to rise. Globally, flooding caused an estimated $2.6 trillion in damages between 2000 and 2019.
Rising global temperatures are also contributing to more frequent and severe heatwaves and wildfires. Extreme heat can cause infrastructure materials to expand and contract, leading to cracking and damage. When transportation networks are impacted, supply chains become disrupted leading to a reduction in business productivity, resulting in lost economic growth. Extreme heat is expected to increase economic losses from 1.5% of GDP in 2040 to 2.5% of GDP in 2050 and to 3.9% of GDP in 2060.
Wildfires occur when extreme temperatures coincide with droughts. They are becoming ever more frequent and severe across the globe. Since 2001, the area of land burned by wildfires has increased by 5.4% and in 2023, nearly 12 million hectares of land burned, surpassing the previous record by 24%. As a wildfire burns, it damages critical infrastructure which disrupts power networks, communication line and transport links.
To mitigate the impacts of climate change on infrastructure, it is essential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to limit future climate change. Transitioning to renewable energy sources and reducing fossil fuel use are vital for protecting our infrastructure. By taking proactive measures to adapt to climate change, we can safeguard our infrastructure and ensure the continued functioning of our society.
