Climate Change Adaptation Report on European Transport Infrastructure

Transport networks and nodes, such as main roads, railways, waterways, terminals, and ports, move people and goods. Their importance to society and the economic growth of the region or country cannot be emphasized enough, and any disruptions to them can significantly impact society and the economy.

Climate change is one of the major and growing threats to transportation networks. Recognizing the role and possible impact of climate change on transport infrastructure, the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (ECE) Group of Experts on Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for Transport Networks and Nodes (the Group of Experts) has produced a 200-page report to analyse the impacts of climate change on the main transport assets.

The report is divided into two parts

The first part discusses the main ECE transport infrastructure networks and nodes exposed to the potential impacts of climate change. This section identifies the main transport networks and nodes in the ECE region, the observed climate changes and projected trends, the analysis of future climate impacts, and the lessons learned and recommendations by the group of experts in the course of this work.

The second part of the report contains a compilation of case studies on approaches, practices, methodologies, and tools developed and applied by EU countries to analyse current and future climate change impacts on the transport system and test transport adaptation options; and the socio-economic impacts of climate change on transport infrastructure in some EU countries.

Some of the case studies highlighted in the report include: How Germany is adapting its transport system to climate change, Germany’s review of its railway regulation and policies regarding potential climate change, Poland’s practice in identifying transport infrastructure hotspots due to climatic factors, and many others.

The case study also includes their country’s policies that provide the framework or basis for climate adaptation.  

Among the recommendations that the group of experts have come up with from doing this work are the following:

• to create awareness and the need to understand the impacts of climate change on inland transport infrastructure and to identify adaptation measures to implement;
• obtaining consistent climate projection data for the ECE region;
• analysing a broad range of climate indicators to boost current knowledge and disseminate these to all countries;
• undertake projects that seek to understand the inland transportation system’s vulnerability to climate change and extreme weather conditions better and allow the sharing of knowledge, experiences, and best practices.

The report states that the Group of Experts hopes to raise awareness of considering climate change in the planning, construction, maintenance, and operation and of building resilience of inland transport assets, networks, and nodes. It also hopes to stimulate ongoing work to establish the analytical basis for regional and local assessments that would identify and adapt transport assets at risk of climate change.

Climate change is a growing global concern. Its impact is not only felt in underdeveloped and developing countries but also in developed countries.

Transport infrastructure and systems are at the forefront of extreme climatic events, which are projected to increase in frequency and intensity.

Ongoing climate adaptation efforts need to be encouraged, and knowledge and learning gained from them can create a solid knowledge base that would be useful for building resilience in the transport sector.