The European Commission published, on Thursday 29 July, new technical guidance on the climate proofing of investments in infrastructure covering the programming period 2021-2027.
While these effects are expected to intensify in the future, they are already being felt on infrastructure that have a long lifespan such as railways, bridges or power plants.
According to the Commission, “it is therefore essential to clearly identify infrastructure that is prepared for a climate-neutral and climate-resilient future”.
For example, construction in areas likely to be affected by a rise in sea level should be given special attention, the Commission says.
The guidelines adopted today aim to help European institutional and private investors make informed decisions on projects deemed compatible with the Paris Agreement and the EU’s climate objectives by integrating climate considerations (adaptation, but also climate change mitigation) into future investments and the development of infrastructure projects (buildings, network infrastructure...)
Specifically, the guidance sets out “common principles and practices” for the identification, classification and management of physical climate risks in the planning, development, implementation and monitoring of infrastructure projects and programmes.
In particular, they state that the operation, maintenance and decommissioning of infrastructure with a lifespan beyond 2050 should be climate neutral, for example by using components of the circular economy, such as recycling or reuse of materials.
See the guidelines: https://bit.ly/3l3PV6q (Original version in French by Damien Genicot)