Climate Change General

Climate impacts refer to the far-reaching and multifaceted consequences of climate change on our
planet. Climate change is driven primarily by human activities, such as the burning of fossil fuels,
deforestation, and industrial processes, which release greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. These
gases trap heat, leading to rising global temperatures and a host of interconnected environmental,
social, and economic effects. This essay aims to provide a detailed exploration of climate impacts,
covering various aspects of this complex issue.

1. Temperature Rise
The most evident and immediate consequence of climate change is the increase in global
temperatures. Over the past century, the Earth's average surface temperature has risen by
approximately 1.2 degrees Celsius. This seemingly small change has far-reaching effects, including:
a. Melting Ice and Rising Sea Levels: Higher temperatures lead to the melting of glaciers and polar
ice caps, contributing to sea level rise. This phenomenon poses a significant threat to coastal
communities and low-lying islands.
b. Extreme Weather Events: The warming climate intensifies extreme weather events like
hurricanes, droughts, floods, and heatwaves, causing substantial damage to ecosystems and human
infrastructure.

2. Ocean Changes
Climate change also impacts the world's oceans:
a. Ocean Warming: The ocean absorbs much of the excess heat from the atmosphere, resulting in
ocean warming. This disrupts marine ecosystems, affecting coral reefs, fish populations, and the
overall health of marine life.
b. Ocean Acidification: Increased levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide are absorbed by the oceans,
causing them to become more acidic. This harms marine organisms like corals, mollusks, and
plankton with calcium carbonate shells or skeletons.

3. Ecosystem Disruption
Climate impacts have profound effects on terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems:
a. Shifts in Habitats: Species are forced to adapt or migrate as their habitats change due to altered
temperature and precipitation patterns. Some species may face extinction as they cannot cope with
these rapid changes.
b. Loss of Biodiversity: Ecosystem disruption and habitat loss can lead to a loss of biodiversity,
affecting ecosystem stability and resilience.

4. Agriculture and Food Security

a. Crop Failures: Changing weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and extreme weather events can
result in crop failures, leading to food shortages and price spikes.
b. Reduced Nutritional Value: Rising carbon dioxide levels can reduce the nutritional value of crops,
impacting human health.

5. Water Resources
Climate impacts on water resources are extensive:
a. Dwindling Freshwater Supplies: Melting glaciers and changing precipitation patterns affect the
availability of freshwater resources, leading to water scarcity in some regions.
b. Increased Water Stress: Water stress, exacerbated by climate change, can lead to conflicts over
water resources.

6. Health Impacts
Climate change affects public health in various ways:
a. Heat-Related Illnesses: Heatwaves can cause heat-related illnesses, especially among vulnerable
populations.
b. Spread of Disease: Altered climate patterns can affect the distribution of disease vectors like
mosquitoes, leading to the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever.

7. Socioeconomic Consequences
Climate impacts disproportionately affect vulnerable populations:
a. Displacement and Migration: Rising sea levels and extreme weather events can force
communities to relocate, resulting in climate-induced migration.
b. Economic Disruption: Climate impacts disrupt economies through damage to infrastructure,
agricultural losses, and increased healthcare costs.

Conclusion
Climate impacts encompass a wide array of interconnected consequences that affect the
environment, society, and the economy. The urgency of addressing climate change cannot be
overstated, as the current trajectory of rising global temperatures and their associated impacts pose
significant challenges to the well-being of present and future generations. Mitigation efforts,
including reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adopting sustainable practices, are crucial to
minimizing these impacts and building a more resilient and sustainable future.

Climate Change - Civil Engineering

Climate change is a global crisis that has far-reaching implications for civil engineering. Civil
engineers play a vital role in designing and maintaining infrastructure that supports our societies.
However, the changing climate presents a host of challenges and considerations for the field. This
essay aims to provide a comprehensive overview of climate impacts on civil engineering, covering
various aspects of this complex issue.

1. Extreme Weather Events and Infrastructure Vulnerability

One of the most immediate impacts of climate change on civil engineering is the increased
frequency and severity of extreme weather events, including hurricanes, floods, droughts, and
wildfires. These events can lead to:
a. Infrastructure Damage: Intense storms and flooding can damage roads, bridges, dams, and
buildings, necessitating costly repairs and reconstruction.
b. Risk Assessment: Engineers must adapt their designs to account for changing climate patterns and
incorporate resilience measures to withstand extreme weather events.

2. Sea-Level Rise and Coastal Infrastructure

Sea-level rise is a direct consequence of climate change that poses a significant challenge to coastal
infrastructure:
a. Coastal Erosion: Rising sea levels accelerate coastal erosion, threatening the stability of coastal
infrastructure like seawalls, ports, and waterfront developments.
b. Engineering Solutions: Civil engineers are tasked with designing adaptive coastal defences, such
as barrier islands, levees, and managed retreat strategies, to protect coastal communities from
erosion and inundation.

3. Changing Precipitation Patterns

Climate change can lead to altered precipitation patterns, including more intense rainfall events and
prolonged droughts:
a. Flooding and Drainage Systems: Increased rainfall can overwhelm drainage systems and lead to
urban flooding, necessitating upgrades to urban infrastructure.
b. Water Supply: Droughts can strain water supply systems, requiring innovative solutions like
rainwater harvesting, water recycling, and efficient distribution networks.

4. Temperature Extremes
Rising temperatures have several implications for civil engineering:
a. Thermal Expansion: Elevated temperatures can cause materials like concrete and asphalt to
expand, leading to cracks and structural damage.
b. Energy Efficiency: Engineers must focus on designing energy-efficient buildings and cooling
systems to reduce energy consumption in response to hotter climates.

5. Sustainability and Green Infrastructure

Climate impacts have spurred a growing emphasis on sustainable engineering practices:
a. Sustainable Design: Civil engineers are incorporating sustainable design principles, such as green
roofs, permeable pavements, and energy-efficient buildings, into their projects to reduce carbon
emissions.
b. Resilient Design: The concept of resilient infrastructure has gained prominence, emphasizing the
importance of designing systems that can withstand climate-related stresses.

6. Regulatory and Code Changes

Governments and industry bodies are responding to climate change by updating regulations and
building codes:
a. Adaptation Policies: Governments are implementing policies that require climate adaptation
measures in civil engineering projects.
b. Risk Assessment: Engineers must conduct climate risk assessments to ensure compliance with
new regulations and codes.

7. Infrastructure Lifespan and Maintenance

Climate impacts can shorten the lifespan of infrastructure and increase maintenance requirements:
a. Material Durability: Engineers must select materials that can withstand harsher weather
conditions, considering factors like corrosion resistance and UV degradation.
b. Maintenance Costs: Increased maintenance and repair costs can strain budgets, requiring careful
planning and resource allocation.

Conclusion
Climate impacts on civil engineering are multifaceted and pose significant challenges to
infrastructure development and maintenance. Adaptation and resilience measures are critical to
ensure that civil engineering projects remain safe and functional in a changing climate. Engineers
must prioritize sustainable and innovative solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change on our
built environment and contribute to a more resilient and sustainable future. Collaboration between
civil engineers, policymakers, and the public is essential to address the complex challenges posed by
climate change in the context of civil engineering.

CLIMATE IMPACT
Intro: The world has heated up by 1.2C since preindustrial era due to human activity (link chapter 1).
This has resulted in changes in the temperature of both oceans and land as well as more frequent
heatwaves, precipitation and F drought. Any increase in global temperature is projected to affect
human health, with primarily negative consequences: i) Biodiversity loss and risk of extinction of
species. it) Increase flooding and risk of water scarcity. ili)Reduction in food availability and security.
Less yield.
This is compounded by an estimated population growth up to 75mil people in the UK by 2050.
Globally, the world's population is expected to increase from current 7.7bn to 9.7bn in 2050.
Who: Disproportionately on the poor and vulnerable. The largest reductions in economic growth are
projected for low- and middle-income countries and regions; Africa, Southeast Asia, India, Brazil,
Mexico...). Small islands are projected to experience multiple, inter-related risks on account of global
warming: i) Sea level rising and coastal flooding impact on population and infrastructure. ii)
Freshwater stress (water scarcity). iii)Pressure on marine ecosystems (loss of biodiversity and food
security)
Evidence: Cold snaps in the southern united states that have disrupted power distribution networks,
heatwaves across Canada and the US, significant flooding that has disrupted transport links and
damage millions in property. Heatwave in UK in summer 2022, wildfires, drought, flooding.

Climate impacts
Flooding – flood defences, floating houses, water management systems, re-meandering rivers
(beavers reintroduction)
Storms – increased severity. Design for higher intensity. Landslips.
Water level rise – moses project
Temperature increase – vegetation and shade – study in LA how trees affect temp. UCLA study links
access to green space in LA with life expectancy
Codes don’t account for climate change. Retrofit assets to improve resilience.
Asset management – extending the design life
Solutions: materials, retrofitting assets, whole life cycle
UN SDGS – 13 climate action.
Gov Climate Change risk assessment: Cost of climate change to UK could be at least 1% of GDP by
2045 (CCRA3). 25-30 billion pounds. Use proactive rather than cleanup.
Working with nature, regeneration.