GENEVA(National Times)- Tran\u00ad\u00adsp\u00adort infrastructure across Europe, North America and central Asia mu\u00ad\u00adst adapt to more adverse climate con\u00ad\u00ad\u00additions, the United Nations said on Tuesday, warning that inaction cou\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00adld prove more costly than upgrades.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Roads, railways, waterways, ports and airports will face a greater likelihood of flooding, high temperatures, reduced snow, ice and permafrost, and sea level rise from 2050 to 2080, the UNECE regional agency said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UNECE covers 56 countries across Europe, North America, the Caucasus and central Asia. It mapped the key inland transport networks needing specific attention. \u201cTransport systems are vital for the smooth functioning of our societies and economies,\u201d said UNECE chief Tatiana Molcean. \u201cDisruptions can have dramatic consequences on communities and come at huge financial cost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBecause extreme weather events are no longer a future risk but a reality today, adaptation of transport infrastructure is an imperative.\u201d The report said changing conditions would result in increased damage and disruption to transport systems if they were not made more resilient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It gave examples such as increased road and rail infrastructure damage during heatwaves; more frequent flooding of transport facilities; and greater challenges at ports and airports during strong wind events.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe recent episode of extreme heat that we\u2019ve seen in Western Europe has highlighted climate risks and the impact and the consequences they can have on transport infrastructure,\u201d UNECE spokesman Jean Rodriguez told reporters.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On the railways alone, he cited train delays, cancellations due to buckled rails, on-board air-conditioning failure, cable and signalling meltdown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Early adaptation\u2019<\/p>\n\n\n\n
UNECE said transport systems in the region would need to cope with 10 to 50 more days per year of temperatures exceeding 25C, with some areas facing 200 days a year above the threshold. UNECE said that by 2050, 70 percent of infrastructure in the Arctic would be in regions at risk from permafrost thaw and subsidence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Flooding from heavy rainfall, plus sea level rise from coastal extremes were also identified as future risks. More intense rainfall is projected in regions including the Alps, the Balkans, northern Turkey, parts of central Asia and the east coast of the United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Infrastructure in the highly populated basins of major European rivers such as the Danube, the Rhine and the Volga is projected to be exposed to significant flooding, said UNECE. Between 71 percent and 89 percent of ports globally will be at risk of extreme marine storms by the end of the century, the report said. \u201cEarly adaptation could reduce related costs by half,\u201d it said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Given worsening climate projections and long infrastructure planning timeframes, UNECE encouraged decision makers to ensure early climate change adaptation was a priority. UNECE urged leaders to ensure transport systems could \u201ccontinue delivering the services on which economies and societies depend\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Transport supremos should use climate projections to assess the risks and identify the hazard thresholds for their systems. \u201cWhile adaptation measures can appear as costly, the consequences of inaction may be even more costly,\u201d the report warned.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
GENEVA(National Times)- Tran\u00ad\u00adsp\u00adort infrastructure across Europe, North America and central Asia mu\u00ad\u00adst adapt to more adverse climate con\u00ad\u00ad\u00additions, the United Nations said on Tuesday, warning that inaction cou\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00adld prove more costly than upgrades. Roads, railways, waterways, ports and airports will face a greater likelihood of flooding, high temperatures, reduced snow, ice and permafrost, and sea […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":128553,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-128552","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-international","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n