Abstract
Effective climate change adaptation requires adequate assessment of the wider environmental, social and economic impacts of a climate change adaptation response and identification and mitigation of the practical issues associated with its implementation. The M25 motorway network: London’s ring road and associated trunk roads is used as a case study for testing the various methods and tools for assessment and implementation of climate change adaptation. This study interviews technical experts and stakeholders to assess the suitability of the proposed process and individual response actions, identify practical issues and facilitate future implementation. The impact of climate change on public infrastructure will be significant and has the potential to cause widespread disruption, as evidenced by historical weather events. Therefore the management of a critical infrastructure asset such as the M25 proved to be a useful test case.
The study found a risk-based decision-making framework to be the most effective for climate change adaptation, given the scale at which the case study was set and the existing systems in place. This finding was supported by a pilot risk assessment of the implications of climate change for all maintenance and operational activities associated with the M25, which led to the development of a climate change adaptation strategy and action plan for the asset.
Several methods and tools are discussed in the quest to identify suitable tools for decision making and assessment of the wider impacts of adaptation. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), which has proven effective for aiding decisionmaking at the strategic level was widely discussed, but the strategic assessment approach was found to be best facilitated in the form of sustainability appraisal. The tool fits well in combination with an adaptive management approach to implementation under conditions of high uncertainty, which ensures that the adaptation response remains flexible and cost effective. These findings were supported by interviews.
Stakeholder interviews uncovered general support for adaptation to climate change, as well as concern for a number of practical issues associated with the development and implementation of a climate change adaptation strategy. The interviews allowed for discussion of measures to address such issues, for example change management, data management and problems associated with the existing institutional structures and inter-organisational relationships. These were worked through individually to identify potential mitigative responses.