ABSTRACT
A changing climate may result in more intense tropical cyclones and storms, more intense rain events and flooding, and other natural hazards. This chapter describes how risk-based approaches are well suited to optimising climate adaptation strategies related to the design and maintenance of existing infrastructure. Climate adaptation strategies may include retrofitting or strengthening of existing structures, more frequent inspections, or enhanced designs. An important aspect is assessing at what point in time climate adaptation becomes economically viable. The impact of climate change on infrastructure performance is a temporal and spatial process, but most existing models of infrastructure hazard and performance are based on a stationary climate. The impact of climate change is discussed, with emphasis on increases in economic risks expected for existing infrastructure subject to climate-induced changes in wind field, floods and heatwaves, and increases in corrosion damage risks of steel and concrete infrastructure due to a changing climate.
