ProClim apporte les dernières connaissances scientifiques sur le changement climatique au débat politique et public. Le forum met en réseau la science, la politique et la société, tout en contribuant à une Suisse neutre et résiliente sur le plan climatique.en plus

Image : NASAen plus

Adaptation of transport to climate change in Europe

Challenges and options across transport modes and stakeholders

This report of the European Environment Agency explores current climate change adaptation practices concerning transport across European countries. In four chapters, the following key messages can be found:

Download Adaptation of transport to climate change in Europe: Adaptation of transport to climate change in Europe

1. Adaptation challenges
Observed and projected climate change - such as increases in temperature, sea level, changes in rainfall, and the increase in frequency and intensity of some extreme weather events - will seriously challenge the transport system, which is an important pillar of the economy and society.

Transport requires many costly and long-lasting investments in infrastructure, aeroplanes, trains, ships and other transport equipment. This calls for anticipatory planning approaches that consider future climate change but also other socio-economic changes.

2. State of transport adaptation
Transport adaptation action in countries mostly focuses on early policy stages (e.g. awareness raising, research, vulnerability assessments) and less on implementation through measures. Implemented measures are often spontaneous and relatively isolated, often as a reaction to a weather-related disaster.

Together with a relatively low awareness of the adaptation needs for the transport system, the lack of tailored knowledge, like adequate climate reference thresholds for the assessment of the vulnerability of transport infrastructure and services, capacities and resources, poses barriers to adapting the transport system.

3. Options and opportunities - examples that can inspire
Only a few examples are found that search for innovative solutions across different transport modes, transport as part of broader adaptation plans, or outside traditional paths - e.g. by considering relocation, building redundancies, or changing services to accommodate current and future accessibility demands.

4. Ways forward to a resilient transport system
A flexible transport structure - the ability to easily find another transport option in the event that one option becomes unusable - plays an important role in creating a resilient transport system. One way to ensure this flexibility is through providing functionally redundant option. Redundancy offers a higher capacity and more options than needed under normal operational conditions, but enables flexibility in the event of a disaster or other interruption.

Currently, greater attention is given to adapting transport infrastructure (rail tracks, ports, roads, etc.) than to adapting transport services (operation of infrastructure and equipment, use of staff, timetables and routing, contingency plans, communication of service options, etc.). More use could be made of this underused potential of transport service operators.

Catégories

  • Adaptation au changement climatique
Anglais