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Buildings
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Climate impacts on the built environment
Adaptation responses in the built environment
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For consideration of climate impacts and adaptation the built environment includes the commissioning, design, construction and operation of buildings, roads, utilities and other infrastructure. Because much of the built environment is designed for the long-term – that is 50 to 60 years, or even longer – it is clearly vulnerable to the changes that are projected for the UK in the 21st century. So an understanding of the future weather and climate is essential for those involved in planning, constructing and managing the built environment.
Because of its longevity the built environment requires strategies that deal not only with new-build but also with retro-fitting of existing buildings and infrastructure. Generally such retrofit solutions are technically more difficult than newbuild.
The built environment is identified by central government as a priority sector for adaptation to a changing climate. It is also one of the sectors where adaptation options must, of necessity, take account of mitigation, in order to ensure that adaptation responses do not create yet further increases in carbon dioxide emissions. The use of mechanical air-conditioning to provide cooling in the face of increased summertime temperatures is a simple example of this concept where mal-adaptation strategy that will increase greenhouse gas emissions.
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