Adaptation pathways for infrastructure operators and policymakers

Infrastructure operators must adapt to a range of hazards associated with climate change including sea level rise, increased frequency of extreme weather events such as heavy rainfall and heatwaves, and gradual climatic change that may leave assets operating in day to day conditions different to those which they were designed for. Adaptation pathways can be described as a “sequence of actions, which can be implemented progressively, depending on future dynamics” (Werners et al 2021) in order to assist adaptation to climate change. The development of adaptation pathways can assist infrastructure owners and operators to adapt their existing assets and networks to maintain desired operational performance under future as yet unknown climate (and e.g. socio economic, policy) conditions.