Whether one is a climate change believer or sceptic, it is
undeniable that there are real risks—not just
weather-related, but regulatory and market risks—that
prudent participants in the infrastructure sector must
consider.
Weather-related risks
Weather-related risks are the risks of rising sea levels and
severe weather events that directly and physically impact
infrastructure projects. Severe weather events include heatwaves,
frosts, heavy rainfall, draughts, floods, hail, thunder storms,
tropical cyclones, bush fires and extreme winds. It seems that
infrastructure located around our coastal fringes will be
particularly exposed to these risks. A recent report by the
Commonwealth Department of Climate Change suggests that a predicted
1.1m rise in sea levels by 2100 will threaten 250,000 houses, 120
ports, 1800 bridges, 5 power stations/substations and a number of
water treatment plants, airports and industrial zones within 200m
of the coastline.
