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Further, the planning, design and construction of our built environment needs to consider new
methods to cope with the future impacts of climate change, as well as those of the built environment
on the natural environment and climate. Various innovative attempts are made by planning and design
firms to address the impacts of climate change (AECOM & Droege, 2010). However, the question still
remains how important is the considerations of the connections between the human and natural environments. This chapter explores the issues around climate change and the built environment – the
impacts and risks – as well as offering critical considerations of the connections between the natural
and built environments in relation to adaptation to a future changed climate scenario. What are the
patterns that emerge, and what issues do we need to consider if we want to achieve a future environment that could secure ongoing resilience for humans, nature and the ecological systems?
3.2 Climate Change
Climate change and the degradation of our ecosystems is a challenge for the human race, and is at an
unprecedented, unforeseen scale. Climate change will have many important and possible severe
impacts upon human society as well as ecological systems (Staudinger, 2013; IPCC, 2013; , 2012;
Fig. 3.1 The Challenge of a Changing Environment: Bushfires in Lithgow, Australia (Photo by Lithgowlights,
2013, CC BY-SA 3.0)
3.2 Climate Change
Further, the planning, design and construction of our built environment needs to consider new
methods to cope with the future impacts of climate change, as well as those of the built environment
on the natural environment and climate. Various innovative attempts are made by planning and design
firms to address the impacts of climate change (AECOM & Droege, 2010). However, the question still
remains how important is the considerations of the connections between the human and natural environments. This chapter explores the issues around climate change and the built environment – the
impacts and risks – as well as offering critical considerations of the connections between the natural
and built environments in relation to adaptation to a future changed climate scenario. What are the
patterns that emerge, and what issues do we need to consider if we want to achieve a future environment that could secure ongoing resilience for humans, nature and the ecological systems?
3.2 Climate Change
Climate change and the degradation of our ecosystems is a challenge for the human race, and is at an
unprecedented, unforeseen scale. Climate change will have many important and possible severe
impacts upon human society as well as ecological systems (Staudinger, 2013; IPCC, 2013; , 2012;
Fig. 3.1 The Challenge of a Changing Environment: Bushfires in Lithgow, Australia (Photo by Lithgowlights,
2013, CC BY-SA 3.0)
3.2 Climate Change