HOW CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS INFRASTRUCTURE (Invited Presentation)

The terms global warming and climate change are often used interchangeably, but the two phenomena are different. Global warming is the rise in global mean temperature due to the release of heat trapping gasses like carbon dioxide and methane. Climate change is a more general term that refers to changes in many climatic factors (such as temperature and precipitation) from the global to the local scale. These changes are happening at different rates and in different ways in response to global warming. The timing and amount of rainfall is changing, which is generally resulting in more severe storms. In addition, global warming and associated climate change is shrinking ice caps, melting glaciers, causing water shortages, causing sea level to rise and increasing wildfire risk. The climate is becoming more extreme in response to global warming. As a result, infrastructure (e.g. buildings, roads, power supplies) are being impacted at an alarming rate. A record number of hurricanes, wildfires and floods cost the world $210 billion in damage in 2020. Specific weather related impacts, and potential mitigation to various infrastructure will be discussed.