Opportunities for a civil engineering climate action strategy

Abstract

This paper outlines the technical and anecdotal findings of a horizon scanning exercise into the ability of civil engineers to deliver impactful climate action. Examples of interaction between extreme weather and built environment assets are broken down via systems thinking. The concept of unconscious bias is addressed in how infrastructure climate risk is diagnosed; beyond the effects of flooding, drought, and heatwaves. Differentiations between climate mitigation, resilience and adaptation are made. Opportunities to address each throughout the infrastructure lifecycle are discussed, including how to balance conflicts of interest between them.