Transport organisations urged to note risks of climate change

Date: 28/1/2011

Climate change poses risks to a number of sectors in the UK and it is important organisations are aware of this, it has been claimed.

As part of a series of reports to be published by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on the issue, the government division has highlighted the importance of ensuring roads, rails and other infrastructure can cope with the effects of the changing climate.

Organisations including Network Rail, National Grid and the Highways Agency have all carried out a report to this end under the Climate Change Act to make sure that they are preparing for any potential threats, as they play such a crucial role in running the country's infrastructure.

John Dora, Principal Engineer on Climate Change at Network Rail, said: "Britain's railway today is resilient to adverse weather but to safeguard its future we must continue to stay prepared in managing the impact from a changing climate."

Risks identified to the nation's rail service include lines being flooded, tracks buckling in high temperatures and heat causing train failure, while roads are at threat of deteriorating faster as a result of the extreme weather.

A recent Department of Transport study found that 46 per cent of people are willing to cut down the number of journeys they take in a car to help the environment.

Posted by Nick Anderson