Climate Change Adaptation in the Built Environment

Global climate change is one of the greatest environmental threats facing humanity and it is affecting every country on every continent. Recent evidence confirms a close liaison between climate change induced hazards and the built environment, as the built environment demonstrates a high fragility and vulnerability to hazardous situations. The impact of climate change is particularly pertinent to the built environment given the life expectancy of buildings and the fact that it is essential to adapt the existing built environment to deal with a climate that may be significantly different from that in which it evolved.  Coastal regions are highly vulnerable to climate change because, in addition to changes in temperature, precipitation, and more frequent flooding, they will be affected by rising sea levels, wave heights, and accelerated coastal erosion. The built environment exerts considerable influence over coastal communities' local climate and environment. Coastal areas also tend to be highly populated, with many vulnerable urban centres located near the coastal belt. In addressing such challenges, it is important to better understand the impacts of climate change on the built environment and to develop tangible climate adaptation measures for the built environment.