In designing buildings and communities, it is important to
plan for the climate throughout the design life of the
development, not just for the current climate.
Greater London Authority
Reinventing transportation and infrastructure has the
potential to save lives, cut costs, add convenience by easing
congestion, reduce pollution and mitigate climate change,
and create future growth opportunities that generate new
jobs. It’s not just win-win; it’s win-win-win-win-win.
Rosabeth Moss Kanter
There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of
good weather.
John Ruskin
I also make the bolder (and more annoying) claim that in spite
of our progress and the growth in knowledge, or perhaps
because of such progress and growth, the future will be
increasingly less predictable, while both human nature and
social “science” seem to conspire to hide the idea from us.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb (The Black Swan)
Infrastructure systems are vulnerable and sensitive to two threats: (a) extreme
weather events – heavy rainfall, strong winds, cyclones, droughts, etc. (b) longterm climate variations, which influence average weather conditions. Present events
seem to indicate that future climates will resemble present ones, albeit with probably
increased likelihoods and intensities. Weather conditions can decrease infrastructure
service quality, quantity or reliance, and can necessitate infrastructure retrofit.
Therefore, infrastructure resilience should be viewed in a new light, namely, the
probability of extreme events with “Long Return Periods”, occurring within human
lifetimes. Given the constraints of planning and the lifetimes of infrastructure
facilities, and the uncertainty accompanying climate change predictions, it is judicious that constructive action be started in due course.
10.1 Introduction
February 1960 was marked in Mauritius by the cyclone Carol, when practically half
of the buildings, houses in Mauritius were severely damaged. The St. Jean church
(Quatre Bornes) found its roof on the ground. At the same time, a donkey breeder in
Le Morne peninsula found his herd of donkeys washed away with a sudden wave
surge inland. As a result, gradually all the houses (formerly made of timber and
corrugated iron sheets or often with thatched roofs) began to look towards concrete
versions.
In 2013, as a result of heavy rainfall, two major floods occurred in Port Louis on
13
th February and 30
th March, the latter being more severe. On both occasions,
280
10 Climate Change and Infrastructure
plan for the climate throughout the design life of the
development, not just for the current climate.
Greater London Authority
Reinventing transportation and infrastructure has the
potential to save lives, cut costs, add convenience by easing
congestion, reduce pollution and mitigate climate change,
and create future growth opportunities that generate new
jobs. It’s not just win-win; it’s win-win-win-win-win.
Rosabeth Moss Kanter
There is no such thing as bad weather, only different kinds of
good weather.
John Ruskin
I also make the bolder (and more annoying) claim that in spite
of our progress and the growth in knowledge, or perhaps
because of such progress and growth, the future will be
increasingly less predictable, while both human nature and
social “science” seem to conspire to hide the idea from us.
Nassim Nicholas Taleb (The Black Swan)
Infrastructure systems are vulnerable and sensitive to two threats: (a) extreme
weather events – heavy rainfall, strong winds, cyclones, droughts, etc. (b) longterm climate variations, which influence average weather conditions. Present events
seem to indicate that future climates will resemble present ones, albeit with probably
increased likelihoods and intensities. Weather conditions can decrease infrastructure
service quality, quantity or reliance, and can necessitate infrastructure retrofit.
Therefore, infrastructure resilience should be viewed in a new light, namely, the
probability of extreme events with “Long Return Periods”, occurring within human
lifetimes. Given the constraints of planning and the lifetimes of infrastructure
facilities, and the uncertainty accompanying climate change predictions, it is judicious that constructive action be started in due course.
10.1 Introduction
February 1960 was marked in Mauritius by the cyclone Carol, when practically half
of the buildings, houses in Mauritius were severely damaged. The St. Jean church
(Quatre Bornes) found its roof on the ground. At the same time, a donkey breeder in
Le Morne peninsula found his herd of donkeys washed away with a sudden wave
surge inland. As a result, gradually all the houses (formerly made of timber and
corrugated iron sheets or often with thatched roofs) began to look towards concrete
versions.
In 2013, as a result of heavy rainfall, two major floods occurred in Port Louis on
13
th February and 30
th March, the latter being more severe. On both occasions,
280
10 Climate Change and Infrastructure