Natural and natural-anthropogenic measures for adapting transport infrastructure to climate change

Abstract

   The purpose of the study is to analyze and develop natural and natural-anthropogenic measures for adapting transport infrastructure to climate change.   The analysis was based on national and international regulations, best practices in the development and implementation of technical, organizational, natural and natural-anthropogenic measures for adapting transport infrastructure facilities to a changing climate. Although technical adaptation measures can be seen as the basis for ensuring safety against climate risks, the adoption of complementary or alternative nature-based measures will allow effective adaptation to be achieved more cost-effectively based on sustainable and long-term solutions. In some cases, technical adaptation measures are clearly determined, which largely deprives decision makers of flexibility when choosing a set of measures for a specific territory. Thus, hybrid solutions combining natural and technical measures can provide an optimal level of safety, taking into account the environmental impact, the area required to accommodate adaptation means, and the magnitude of costs.Current engineering adaptation measures used at transport infrastructure facilities have been identified. With the exception of a number of procedural changes to current practice, most current measures are technical solutions. It has been established that complementing technical and organizational measures with natural and natural-human adaptation measures has the potential not only to provide ecosystem services that could increase biodiversity and ecological connectivity, but also to ensure the resilience of transport infrastructure to climate change. The widespread use of these adaptation measures will make it possible to position railway transport as a reliable, sustainable and environmentally friendly mode of transport.