Transport infrastructure is critical for the movement of goods and people. Therefore, it needs to be resilient to increasing natural disasters and hazards. A review of engineered and architectural solutions to climate change impacts found that such countermeasures require better prediction of weather and climate conditions during the service life of the infrastructure.

Changes in weather patterns caused by climate change directly impact transport infrastructure. The vulnerability of transport networks to natural hazards exposes people to additional risks. The main climate change challenges that interfere with transport infrastructure are extreme air temperatures (e.g. heat waves and harsh winter weathers), flooding, storms and rising sea levels. Therefore, it is necessary to develop climate-proof transport infrastructure and operations. A study reviewed measures taken by international road agencies to protect urban transport infrastructure from climate change impacts (i.e. air temperature variability and extremes, flooding and rising sea levels).

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Source: TRIMS, European Commission