Identifying, assessing and minimising the risks

Major climate change risks can be managed through either adaptation or mitigation measures applied to the design process. Taking a project located in a main city, resilience against the risks associated with increased frequency and variation of rainfall, flooding, storms, higher temperatures and drought may include measures such as:

• reducing risk of overland flooding by including 'passive' flood protection measures, such as raising entry or egress levels to above the flood levels;
• managing surface water run-off and target ‘green field’ site infiltration;
• integrating Sustainable Urban Drainage and slow release of stored rainwater into the foul sewer system;
• designing in resilience and protection from ingress of water from the ground to avoid additional structural loading;
• undertaking geotechnical investigations using the climate change scenarios to predict any ground movement through increased rainfall;
• including green infrastructure and landscaping to provide natural cooling to open spaces and reflection of sunlight from buildings surfaces;
• making maximum use of natural lighting and cooling; and
• installing solar shading and/or use materials with reflective properties on any external surfaces to reduce heat gains.