Download Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the

Guidance for making the case for
climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Prepared for:
Climate Ready
Climate Ready is a support service led by the Environment Agency
Date:
November 2013
Page 1 of 29
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Contents
1. Who is this guidance for? .......................................................................................................................2 2. What’s in it for the built environment sector? .........................................................................................3 3. Four stage strategy for adaptation .........................................................................................................5 4. Stage 1. How to identify climate change risks ..................................................................................6 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................................6 4.2 Key climate risks for the built environment ....................................................................................6 4.2.1 Designing for comfort ................................................................................................................6 4.2.2 Designing for construction .........................................................................................................7 4.2.3 Managing water .........................................................................................................................8 4.3 Data and information to assess climate risks ................................................................................8 5. Stage 2. How to categorise risks ......................................................................................................10 5.1 Data and information to help categorise climate risks .................................................................12 6. Stage 3. How to identify adaptation strategies ...............................................................................14 6.1 Guidance on identifying adaptation options ................................................................................15 6.2 Examples of adaptation options for the built environment from Design for Future Climate (DfFC)
projects ....................................................................................................................................................16 7. Stage 4. How to assess the value of adaptation measures ...........................................................18 7.1 Assessing the justification for adaptation options .......................................................................19 7.2 Guidance on assessing the value of adaptation strategies .........................................................19 8. Case studies: Design for Future Climate .............................................................................................21 8.1 Co-operative Head Office, Manchester – Buro Happold .............................................................21 8.2 Oxford University Press, Oxford – Hoare Lea .............................................................................22 8.3 100 City Road, London – Arup ....................................................................................................24 8.4 Edge Lane, Liverpool – Medical Architecture ..............................................................................25 9. Recommended reading ........................................................................................................................26 10. Web-based climate change adaptation resources for the built environment .......................................28 10.1 UK Regional Resources ..............................................................................................................28 10.2 Climate change adaptation resources .........................................................................................28 © MBE KTN 2013
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1.
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Who is this guidance for?
Difficulty in making the financial or economic argument for investing in adaptation measures has been
highlighted as one of the main barriers to climate change adaptation in the UK built environment sector,
reflected in a recent survey of built environment professionals1.
This guidance is for those working in the built environment sector, including planners, developers and
designers. It provides guidance and information sources on:

How to begin to assess and communicate the business case for climate change adaption in the built
environment, and

How to realise developments which are resilient to the effects of a changing climate.
It will aid the identification of opportunities to factor in climate change adaptation and support the delivery
of buildings which are more resilient to a changing climate.
This guidance can be used by professionals in the built environment sector who want to know how
adaptation can be taken into account at different stages of the development, such as masterplanning,
concept design and detailed design. It is applicable to both new development and refurbishment, and for
building and landscaping projects.
The aim of the guidance is to present an approach, requiring little technical economics knowledge, which
can be used to encourage project partners to integrate climate adaptation measures into projects by:

Determining relevant climate risks and those risks that are highest priority for the project;

Identifying no cost and low cost measures that can get a project on the pathway to adaptation; and

How to determine the cost effectiveness of win-win and higher cost adaptation measures.
This is a live document, and we welcome feedback and ideas from all readers as to how they feel the
guidance could be improved, extended or clarified. Comments can be submitted to the Modern Built
Environment Knowledge Transfer Network at [email protected]
This guidance has been funded and developed in partnership with the Environment Agency’s Climate
Ready support service. Climate Ready provides support, tools, guidance and information to help
businesses and other organisations successfully adapt with the UK’s changing climate which are
available from the Climate Ready website.
The Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) in partnership with Climate Ready
has developed guidance to help Environmental Sustainability Managers in businesses make the business
case to senior management for climate change adaptation. This guidance considers how to promote
adaptation of a business on a broader scale than just buildings, thus it is a complementary resource to
this guidance. It can be found on the IEMA website.
1
Modern Built Environment Knowledge Transfer Network, 2013, Climate Change Adaptation Survey: Results
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2.
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
What’s in it for the built environment sector?
The UN Global Compact initiative ‘Caring for Climate’ published a report in 2011 on how companies and
communities can adapt for climate change and move towards a “greener” economy. They outlined four
key arguments, listed below, that support the need to consider the business case for adapting to climate
change.
Avoid costs, manage liabilities and build resilience to climate change impacts
For construction developments, both during construction and during operation, the potential costs
associated with climate change could be highly
significant2, 3. Risks from extreme weather
Losses due to flood, wind and seaevents and a changing climate may translate to
level risks for Hull were estimated at
higher insurance costs and project delays
$55.3m per year in 2008. These are
during construction, and greater repair and
expected to increase to between
running costs during operation.
$78.2m and $96.0m per year.
(Shaping climate-resilient development,
Economics of Climate Adaptation Working
Group, 2009)
Investing early to deliver solutions to these
problems can increase resilience to climate
change risks, reducing the impact of adverse
conditions when they occur (e.g. the Bangkok
Metro remained operational despite widespread surface flooding4 thanks to intelligent flood-proofing
design).
Access new financing streams
International climate change agreements may lead to a range of European and national public funding
opportunities for businesses. Companies who
can demonstrate an existing commitment to,
The Design for Future Climate
and expertise in, climate change adaptation will
competition
awarded funding of up to
be well positioned to win contracts for further
£100k per building project towards
services, research and development. Already,
developing an adaptation strategy
the Technology Strategy Board has made
(Design for a future climate, Technology
funding available to businesses through the
Strategy Board, 2011)
Design for Future Climate competition and the
Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI)
which may also provide a competitive advantage to the participating organisations.
Build corporate reputation and exercise good corporate citizenship
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an area of increasing prominence in business strategy and
marketing. Climate change adaptation offers companies an opportunity to make a positive and public
contribution to both their local area and communities in both developed and developing countries.
2
Sustainability West Midlands, 2003, The Potential Impacts of Climate Change in the West Midlands
London Climate Change Partnership, 2002, A Climate Change Impacts in London Evaluation Study
4
Pattaya Mail, 2011, Bangkok Metro: All subway stations remain operational
3
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
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Research by the UK Small Business Consortium5 showed 88% of consumers were more likely to buy
from a company that supports and engages in
activities to improve society.
Expand market share and create value for
communities
88% of consumers were more likely to
buy from a company that supports and
engages in activities to improve society
(Better Business Journey, UK Small Business
Developing a successful approach to adaptation
Consortium, 2006)
will require the development of new products,
strategies and services. Experience of developing climate change adaptation strategies can be used by
designers and developers as a differentiator when bidding for work. By understanding the financial
benefits of climate change adaptation, designers can identify long-term savings for their clients.
Adaptation measures can also provide benefits for local communities, for example, by providing
comfortable outside spaces, and through contributing to improved water management in the urban
environment.
When built environment professionals use these arguments to encourage clients to consider the business
case for adaptation in a project, it may be helpful to refer to the guidance published by IEMA in
partnership with Climate Ready on how to raise the profile of adaptation issues within businesses. This
guidance includes advice on how to get various stakeholders on board, what language to use and how to
link adaptation to core parts of business to raise the profile of adaptation as an issue.
5
UK Small Business Consortium, 2006, Better Business Journey
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3.
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Four stage strategy for adaptation
Development projects in the built environment sector differ widely, and thus there is no “one size fits all”
strategy to adapting to climate change. This guidance outlines a structured, risk-based approach that will
help you to generate the information you need to begin to make a bespoke business case for adaptation
measures to be considered in your project, so that the end product is more resilient to the effects of a
changing climate. It is built around a four-stage process, as illustrated in
Figure 1, and is consistent with typical risk assessment methods.
This guidance comprises a number of short “How to” guides, which give a brief summary of how to
approach each stage of the process. Whilst these guides are relatively brief, a number of key documents,
tools and reports are referenced. Readers are encouraged to make use of these supporting resources to
clarify key points and gain a richer understanding. A collated list of recommended reading and useful
web-based resources is also included at the end of this guidance.
1. Identify risks to core business, supply chain and wider network
2. Classify climate‐related risks
3. Identify climate change adaptation strategies
4. Assess the value of adaptation options
Figure 1 The four stage process to incorporating adaptation into new development.
This guidance is designed to assist in achieving developments which are resilient to the effects of a
changing climate. We will demonstrate how this can be achieved with “no regret” or “win-win” adaptation
measures, such that the economic case is straightforward to present.
There are 3 key principles that are critical to developing an effective business case for climate change
adaptation in the built environment:
Early identification and
prioritisation of climate risks understand climate risks as
potential design constraints at
project conception and design
inception.
Assess and address climate
risks early to facilitate ‘no regret’
or ‘low regret’ adaptation – seek
to address climate risks design
approaches during site selection
and masterplanning.
Design in ‘adaptive capacity’ where climate risks are uncertain
or long term, allow ‘adaptive
capacity’ within the design for
future adaptation, when and if it
becomes necessary.
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4.
4.1
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Stage 1. How to identify climate change risks
Introduction
In order to make the business case for adapting
a development to climate risks, the first stage is
to identify and understand the risks for that
development.
The Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions
(C2ES) report on adapting to climate change6
divides these risks between core operations,
the value chain, and the broader business
network, as shown in Figure 2.
Case study
Co-operative Head Office, Manchester –
Buro Happold
(See section 8.1 for full case study)
A climate change risk assessment was carried
out using the UKCP09 climate projections. Due
to the expected lifespan of the building, the
projections for the 2030s and 2050s were used
to assess the climate change impacts.
Drainage modelling was also used to determine
risk of surface water flooding during extreme
rainfall.
Figure 2 Business areas susceptible to climate risks, adapted from the C2ES report Adapting to
Climate Change: A Business Approach.
When considering climate change adaptation in the built environment, risks to ‘core operations’ (i.e.
building construction and operation) is the primary focus and thus the focus for this guidance. For further
information on identifying climate risks in the wider business network, refer to guidance and resources
provided by the Climate Ready themes, in particular the Business and Services theme.
4.2
4.2.1
Key climate risks for the built environment
Designing for comfort
Designing for comfort can be broken down into keeping cool within buildings, keeping cool in external
spaces and keeping warm within buildings. A 1999 study7 of employee productivity identified comfort as
6
Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions, Adapting to Climate Change: A Business Approach, 2008
Leaman, A & Bordass, B 1999 Productivity in buildings: the killer variables. Building Research and Information,
Volume 27 (1), pp 4-19
7
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
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one of the ‘killer’ variables for productivity in the workplace, with productivity losses of up to 20%
associated with declining levels of comfort.
Keeping cool within buildings is likely to be a major challenge as the frequency of very high summer
temperatures increases and energy costs increase. A study by the Chartered Institution of Building
Services Engineers (CIBSE) and Arup8 found that many existing buildings are already failing to meet
comfort criteria of not exceeding 28°C for more than 1% of occupied hours. The UK Climate Change
Risk Assessment (CCRA) highlights overheating and cooling energy demand as medium consequence
risks in the short to medium term (2020-2050s), and high consequence risks in the long-term (2080s).
Keeping cool in external spaces is also likely to become a challenge as summer temperatures
increase. For buildings whose primary functions involve the use of outside space (such as schools with
playgrounds and blocks of flats with balconies) this is likely to become a concern, as previous practice in
the UK prioritised capturing heat and sunlight, rather than mitigating it. Without the confines of a building
to hold cool air, the key to avoiding overheating outside is the considered use of shading, green spaces
and bodies of water. However, the UK CCRA identifies a significant risk of a decline in the effectiveness
of green space for cooling due to climate change.
While average temperatures are rising, extremely cold winter spells are still likely to occur in future, so
keeping warm within buildings in winter will remain a concern in the UK and high levels of insulation
will still be required.
4.2.2
Designing for construction
The effects of climate change on construction
considerations can also be divided into three topics:
structural stability below ground; structural stability
above ground; and weatherproofing, detailing and
materials.
In some parts of the UK, changes in rainfall
patterns may result in shrinkage of clay soils,
affecting building foundations and potentially
causing damage to buildings. During construction it
is important to design, not only for current ground
conditions, but also for potential changes in the
ground conditions. The stability of slopes,
embankments and other earth structures may
also be at risk from changing rainfall patterns.
Case study
100 City Road, London – Arup
(See section 8.3 for full case study)
Through risk assessment workshops, it was
determined that the major climate change
risk for this building was overheating of
internal spaces. Comparisons were made
between a 2005 Test Reference Year (TRY)
and the UKCP09 climate projections for
2020, 2050 and 2080, with the annual hours
of overheating found to increase from 29 in
2005 to 615 in 2080.
The risk to structural stability above ground comes mainly from wind loading. While the effect of
climate change on future wind loads is unclear, it is important to identify where risks may arise should
wind speeds increase, so that they are prepared should improved projections suggest a need to act.
The impact on building materials of increased temperatures and changes in rainfall patterns must be
considered when selecting materials for construction, and when assessing risks to existing assets.
Higher temperatures and/or increased levels of driving rain may negatively impact on the longterm serviceability of construction materials, and these risks should be considered carefully.
8
Hacker, JN Belcher, SE & Connell, RK 2005 Beating the Heat: Keeping UK buildings cool in a warming climate.
UKCIP Briefing Report. UKCIP, Oxford
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
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The risks of a changing climate for the construction process itself have been investigated9,10, outlining
the major risks for construction sites presented by too much or too little rain, excessive heat, strong winds
and storms, along with potential mitigation or adaptation strategies. Extreme weather can result in a
number of risks to the safety of workers or members of the public which result in work needing to halt
and, therefore, delays to the programme.
4.2.3
Managing water
Both shortage and inundation of water are likely to be concerns in the built environment as the climate
changes.
The UK CCRA highlights variable water availability as a key risk for the built environment. In particular,
reductions in the summer may lead to less reliable supplies, more frequent restrictions and potential
water shortages in the longer term. Water availability is already a significant issue in East and South East
England, and policy measures may be introduced to reduce demand.
With increased risk of extreme rainfall events, drainage and sewerage systems are expected to require
increased capacity to cope. Risk of flooding, either from rivers bursting their banks or flash flooding due
to heavy rainfall, should be carefully assessed. Further, the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors11
research has found that less than a third of small and medium enterprises in London flood risk areas are
adequately equipped for the threat of flooding to their premises.
4.3
Data and information to assess climate risks
There are a number of datasets and information sources that can be used to help planners, developers
and designers working in the built environment to identify climate risks to their projects.
Resource
Description
Where to find it
UK Climate Change Risk
Assessment, Department
for Environment, Food
and Rural Affairs (Defra)
Identifies climate risks across a range of
sectors; the primary climate change-related
risks for the built environment being
flooding, overheating and reduced water
supply.
http://www.defra.gov.uk/envir
onment/climate/government/ri
sk-assessment/
Design for future
climate/Design for climate
change, Bill Gething
Report and book on adaptation in the built
environment. May be used as a framework
for identifying risks in construction or
refurbishment projects, categorised into
three areas: designing for comfort,
construction and managing water.
http://www.innovateuk.org/our
strategy/innovationplatforms/l
owimpactbuilding/design-forfuture-climate-report-.ashx
Resources for individual regions of the UK
http://www.climateuk.net/
Climate UK
st
http://www.ribabookshops.co
m/item/design-for-climatechange/77532/
UKCP09 (Defra)
UK climate projections for the 21 Century,
for use in assessing risks from a changing
climate.
http://ukclimateprojections.def
ra.gov.uk/
PROMETHEUS data,
University of Exeter
Future weather files which can be used to
'future-proof' buildings against predicted
climate change (based on UKCP09).
http://www.arcccn.org.uk/projectsummaries/completed-
9
Fieldson, R, 2011, Climate Adaptation and Resilience on Construction Sites
CIRIA, 2005, Climate change risks in building
11
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, 2012, Impacts of Flooding on SMEs and their Relevance to Chartered
Surveyors
10
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
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Resource
Description
Where to find it
projects/prometheus/
COPSE data, University
of Manchester
Coincident Probabilistic climate change
weather data for a Sustainable built
Environment.
http://www.arcccn.org.uk/projectsummaries/completedprojects/copse/
UK flood risk maps,
Environment Agency
Maps of areas currently vulnerable to river
or sea flooding. These do not account for
climate change, and do not cover surface
water flooding (e.g. from run-off during
extreme rainfall events).
http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/homeandleisur
e/37837.aspx
Flood Risk Assessment
(FRA)
A FRA is required to obtain planning
permission for a new development. The
Environment Agency publish guidance on
preparing a FRA. Regional councils have
also produced Strategic Flood Risk
Assessments (SFRAs) specific to their
regional circumstances.
http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/research/plan
ning/93498.aspx
Surface water flood
maps, Environment
Agency
Maps of areas susceptible to Surface Water
Flooding and Flood Maps for Surface Water
(held by Lead Local Flood Authorities)
http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/research/plan
ning/109490.aspx
Drain London Forum
Investigated the risk from surface water
flooding during extreme rainfall.
http://www.london.gov.uk/prio
rities/environment/lookingafter-londons-water/drainlondon
Beat the Heat: Keeping
UK buildings cool in a
warming climate, UKCIP
and Arup
Report on the risk of overheating in UK
buildings
http://www.ukcip.org.uk/word
press/wpcontent/PDFs/Beating_heat.p
df
Susdrain
Large collection of resources related to
water management and flooding
http://www.susdrain.org/
Investigation into
overheating in homes:
literature review,
Department for
communities and Local
Government (DCLG)
Review by DCLG of literature on
overheating in homes, and the likely
impacts of retrofitting and refurbishing on
the risk of overheating
https://www.gov.uk/governme
nt/publications/investigationinto-overheating-in-homesliterature-review
Making the country
resilient to a changing
climate, Department for
Energy and Climate
Change) DECC
Report from DECC for the National
Adaptation Programme, outlining strategies
for adaptation across a number of sectors
https://www.gov.uk/governme
nt/uploads/system/uploads/att
achment_data/file/209866/pb
13942-nap-20130701.pdf
Overheating in new
homes - A review of the
evidence, NHBC
A review of evidence on overheating risk in
new build homes
http://www.nhbcfoundation.or
g/Researchpublications/Over
heatinginnewhomes.aspx
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5.
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Stage 2. How to categorise risks
Once you have identified the climate risks a new development faces, these risks should be categorised to
differentiate between those which require an immediate response and those which are concerns that
should be monitored and considered for action in the future. One means of doing this is by using the
flowchart set out in Figure 3.
Figure 3 Risk categorisation flow chart, adapted from C2ES report12
1. Are climate risks a significant risk factor for the proposed development (as determined at
Stage 1)?
12
13

Climate change adaptation decisions should be part of a business’s wider risk management
strategy. The UKCIP and Environment Agency co-authored Risk Framework report13
distinguishes between Climate Adaptation Decisions, Climate Influenced Decisions and Climate
Independent Decisions, based on the relative significance of the climate change factors
compared to non-climate factors in the decision.

You should determine if the risk is largely dependent on changes in climate, or if other, nonclimate factors are important. Could dealing with the other factors negate the need to consider
climate projections? For example, if the risk is potentially high future energy costs, could
improving the energy independence of the development, through installing micro-generation,
sufficiently deal with this risk? This would also have the benefit of contributing to climate change
mitigation, demonstrating the businesses’ commitment to sustainability and thus be a ‘win-win’
solution.
Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions, Adapting to Climate Change: A Business Approach, 2008
UKCIP, Climate adaptation: Risk, uncertainty and decision-making, 2003
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
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Figure 4 Adapted from UKCIP Risk Framework report
2. Is there an immediate threat based on current conditions? To answer this question you
should consider the following:

Do current weather conditions and recent extreme weather events present a threat for this risk?

Has the site been affected by recent floods?

Did heat waves in 2003 or other years cause business losses or missed business opportunities?

Have water restrictions been imposed by the water authority in this area in recent years? (For
example in 2012?). What impact did it have on have on similar developments and users of those
developments?
Oxford University Press, Oxford – Hoare Lea
3. Does addressing the threat involve
(See section 8.2 for more on this case study)
long-term investment, lengthy
The risk of overheating was identified as an
implementation or large financial
immediate risk, with considerable consequences
outlay? To answer this question you
for comfort, productivity and energy costs,
should consider the following:
making this a Category 1 risk. This was
mitigated with additional thermal mass in the
 Is it likely to be difficult or expensive to
roof, additional drinking points around the site,
react to threats as they arise?
and inclusion of blanked pipes for potential
future additional cooling plant.
 Could lower cost or ‘no regret’ options
The risk of flooding, while having the potential to
be deployed to manage these risks?
cause significant losses, was identified as not
being an immediate threat from current climate
 Could these risks be more easily
data. Low cost retrofit solutions, such as
managed through earlier consideration
doorway flood barriers, were identified making
in the design process?
this a Category 2 risk, although added adaptive
capacity was required in the form of deeper door
 Is there scope to adapt the
frames to accommodate barriers.
development in the future to manage
these risks? (e.g. new technology,
redevelopment or relocation of buildings)
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
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4. Is a high value asset at stake or is
there a risk of high losses if the
wrong decision is made? To
answer this question you should
consider the following:

Will core elements of the
development be impacted by the
climate risks identified?
Edge Lane, Liverpool – Medical Architecture
(See section 8.4 for more on this case study)
For this development, thermal comfort was
identified as a major risk factor, with immediate
consequences for the value of the development,
making it a Category 1 risk. In response, a
number of shading and ventilation measures were
included in the design.
Plant selection for the outdoor areas was
identified as a risk, as some plant types may not
survive well in future climates, reducing their
effectiveness for providing cool spaces. As this is
a longer term impact that would be relatively easy
to adapt to through replanting it was identified as a
Category 2 risk that should be monitored.

Are the losses from the threat on the
development likely to have major
financial physical or reputational
impacts for future building users?

Could damage occur which could
threaten the survival of the
development?

What costs have been incurred from similar scale risks at similar developments?
The risk categories are defined as follows:
Category 1 risks require action to be taken to adapt the development to the climate risk. Ways of
addressing the risk should be researched and assessed to determine those measures which are
economically viable. Examples of this category of risk may be finding that the proposed development is
located in a high-risk flood area.
Category 2 risks should be carefully monitored, with a view to these risks being managed in the future if
the climate risk becomes more immediate. An example of this type of risk may be a vulnerability to high
wind speeds, which may require action if higher wind speeds become a common feature of the UK
climate.
For Category 3 risks, the climate is not a major influence.
5.1
Data and information to help categorise climate risks
Many of the resources from the previous stage will be useful in categorising risks. In addition the
resources below contain valuable guidance:
Resource
Description
Where to find it
Adapting to Climate
Change: A Business
Approach, Centre for
Climate and Energy
Solutions
Report on climate change adaptation.
Identifies categories of risks, and provides
guidance on categorising risks.
http://www.c2es.org/docUp
loads/BusinessAdaptation.pdf
Climate adaptation:
Risk, uncertainty and
decision-making,
UKCIP
Technical report on identifying, categorising
and prioritising risks
http://www.ukcip.org.uk/wo
rdpress/wpcontent/PDFs/Risk.pdf
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Resource
Description
Where to find it
Adaptation wizard
tool, Environment
Agency
A process-based resource to help identify and
manage key risks from a changing climate.
Step 3 is concerned with evaluating climate
risks
http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/research/1
37639.aspx
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6.
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
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Stage 3. How to identify adaptation strategies
Now that you have identified key climate risks, you should explore adaptation measures that could
address these risks, and look for opportunities to consider these in your project.
Adaptation strategies can take the form of policy measures, such as training staff to be aware of the
risks and what to do in the event of a severe weather event, technical measures such as implementing
rainwater harvesting or shading, or risk-transfer measures such as purchasing appropriate insurance. In
the context of the built environment, technical measures are likely to be the most relevant to project
operations, and we focus on these here. However, these technical measures are most effective when
complemented and reinforced by policy and risk-transfer measures.
During Stage 3, all potential adaptation strategies should be considered. They will be reduced to an
effective strategy through an assessment of the various options in Stage 4.
Figure 5 Types of adaptation strategy
When considering the technical measures available to respond to the risks identified it is important to
remember the following key principles (from the introduction to this document):

Early identification and prioritisation of climate risks - understand climate risks as potential design
constraints at project conception and design inception.

Assess and address climate risks early to facilitate ‘no regret adaptation’ – seek to address
climate risks design approaches during site selection and masterplanning. This can allow lower
cost adaptation by minimising or avoid climate risks entirely and/or dealing with multiple climate
risks as well as non-climate risks.

Designing in ‘adaptive capacity’ - where climate risks are uncertain or long term, allow ‘adaptive
capacity’ within the design for future adaptation, when and if it becomes necessary.
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
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Considering these principles, Category 1 risks should be dealt with as soon as possible, early in the
design process. This will allow greater potential for ‘no regret’ adaptation options at low or no cost, such
as increasing ceiling heights, adding shading or raising entrances to protect against flooding.
While Category 1 risks should be the priority, it is important to consider Category 2 risks early in the
design process as they too could be addressed through ‘no regret’ adaptation options. It may also be cost
effective to include adaptive capacity in a design to allow low-cost mitigation of Category 2 risks. Adaptive
capacity may include leaving space for additional ventilation ducting, more plant machinery or designing
internal walls and fittings so that they can be easily moved or changed.
Many of these adaptation strategies may have an impact on the success or feasibility of other strategies.
The interrelationships between different strategies should also be identified, in order to understand their
potential impact most clearly.
6.1
Guidance on identifying adaptation options
Resource
Description
Where to find it
Identifying Adaptation
Options, UKCIP
A guide to identifying climate adaptation
options
http://www.ukcip.org.uk/wo
rdpress/wpcontent/PDFs/ID_Adapt_o
ptions.pdf
Economics of Climate
Resilience, Defra
Discusses adaptation options for a range of
industries. Phase one investigated nine key
adaptation challenges, split across five
themes: Agriculture and Forestry; Buildings
and Infrastructure; Business and Services;
Health and Well-Being; and Natural
Environment.
http://randd.defra.gov.uk/D
efault.aspx?Module=More
&Location=None&ProjectI
D=18016
Adaptation Wizard
tool, Environment
Agency
A process-based resource to help identify and
manage key risks from a changing climate.
Step 4 provides guidance on how to identify
adaptation options strategies and evaluate
them according to selected criteria.
http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/research/1
37639.aspx
Design for Future
Climate competition
projects
Useful case studies for businesses working in
the built environment. These projects
developed adaptation strategies for a range of
new build and refurbishment projects, and
identified many effective measures for
adapting to the effects of climate change.
https://connect.innovateuk.
org/web/design-for-futureclimate/projects-outputs
Climate Adaptation –
Guidance on
insurance issues for
new developments,
Association of British
Insurers
Information and guidance on how climate
change affects insurance (risk-transfer) for
new developments.
www.climatewise.org.uk/st
orage/publications/viewAtt
achment.pdf
Beat the Heat:
Identifies the most effective passive cooling
http://www.ukcip.org.uk/wo
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Resource
Description
Where to find it
Keeping UK buildings
cool in a warming
climate, UKCIP and
Arup
adaptation options for UK buildings.
rdpress/wpcontent/PDFs/Beating_hea
t.pdf
Conserving water in
buildings,
Environment Agency
A practical guide to reducing water
consumption in buildings
http://publications.environ
mentagency.gov.uk/pdf/GEHO1
107BNJR-E-E.pdf
Environment Agency
Interactive Flood
House
Interactive guide for protecting domestic
property from flooding
http://www.environmentagency.gov.uk/homeandlei
sure/floods/31644.aspx
Your social housing in
a changing climate,
London Climate
Change Partnership
Report on the implementation of adaptation
measures in social housing in London
http://climatelondon.org.uk
/wpcontent/uploads/2013/02/Y
our-social-housing-in-achanging-climate.pdf
6.2
Examples of adaptation options for the built environment from Design for Future
Climate (DfFC) projects
The below table shows some of the adaptation options proposed by DfFC projects. Further details of
these projects are provided in the case studies section below. These are collections of potential
adaptation strategies, collated before any assessment was made of the most suitable approach.
Therefore, many of these adaptation measures were not included in the final designs.
Policy
-
Technical
Technical
(Comfort)
(Water management)
Increased thermal mass in ceiling to
regulate temperatures.
Oxford University Press, Oxford
Hoare Lea
Roof design altered to allow for future
plant mezzanine so more equipment
may be installed if needed.
Knock-out panels and blank pipes to
allow for future additional cooling
systems.
Modularised boilers so each module
can be run at close to peak efficiency,
even when the load changes.
Additional drinking points for staff.
© MBE KTN 2013
Increased diameter of drain
pipes to provide greater capacity
during storm events.
Deepened door frames to allow
installation of flood barriers in
the future.
Step-up into plant room to avoid
floodwater ingress and keep
plant operational.
Increase the capacity of the
storm water drainage, filtration
and storage systems to
attenuate flooding.
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Policy
100 City Road, London
Arup
Relax thermal
comfort criteria
to account for
changes in
comfort
requirements as
external
temperatures
increase
Technical
Technical
(Comfort)
(Water management)
Limit solar gains using external shading.
-
Limit internal lighting/ equipment gains
with high efficiency installations.
Improved insulation to reduce heating
demand.
Increase room height and air distribution
to improve occupant comfort.
Night time ventilation to achieve free
cooling and increased thermal mass to
regulate temperatures.
Adapt the design to allow mixed mode
ventilation and cross ventilation to offset
cooling demand through use of natural
ventilation when appropriate.
Co-operative Head
Office, Manchester
Buro Happold
Management
measures to
improve
productivity
Edge Lane, Liverpool
Medical Architecture
Double skin façade to provide natural
ventilation.
Increased capacity rainwater
collection tank.
Earth duct to supply cool, fresh air.
Increased capacity flood
attenuation tank.
Access to
external space
Increased shading through planting and
manufactured shades.
Emergency
evacuation plan
New glass technologies to reduce solar
glare.
Low water use fittings such as
low flow toilets and taps and
grey/rain water storage to
reduce fresh water use.
Low flood risk
location
Reflective materials to reflect incident
solar radiation.
New irrigation techniques to
reduce mains water use for
green spaces.
Night ventilation and increased thermal
mass to regulate temperatures.
Increased drain capacity to
reduce flooding.
Improved staff
awareness and
preparedness
Green roof and planting/water to
improve external micro-climate.
Improved insulation and heat reclaimed
from exhaust air to reduce heating costs
in winter.
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7.
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Stage 4. How to assess the value of adaptation measures
Assessing the costs and benefits, and overall value, of a particular adaptation strategy is an important
task that can often be complex.. The costs may not be well defined, particularly with policy measures, and
the benefits are challenging to quantify, as savings are based on unpredictable, extreme events or are
long-term savings, for which appropriate discount rates are difficult to define. Adaptation strategies can be
broadly placed into 4 categories:
No regrets
Low regrets
Win-win
High cost
Some adaptation measures may fall into several of these categories, depending on the circumstances or
the stage of the project at which the adaptation is implemented. In general, the earlier a measure is
implemented, the more the costs (and potential regrets) are reduced.
‘No regrets options’ can be predicted to have a net benefit and value regardless of how the climate
changes. For example, if choosing between two potential sites of equal cost where one is at greater risk
of flooding under future climate projections, selecting the site with the reduced risk of flooding does not
impose any additional cost and, therefore, there is no regret if the future flooding does not materialise.
‘Low regrets options’ are relatively low cost adaptation measures where the benefits are expected to be
large, but will only be realised given the
progression of climate change. For example,
Edge Lane, Liverpool – Medical Architecture
increasing ceiling heights to improve thermal
(See section 8.4 for more on this case study)
comfort may incur an initial cost, but this is likely
For this project, the designers developed a
to be offset by cooling savings as we experience
scoring system for adaptation measures, rating
warmer summers.
the level of risk, the likely effectiveness and the
‘Win-win options’ are those that deliver benefits
from a climate change adaptation point of view,
and further benefits to other business goals, such
as reducing energy costs, improving working
conditions or improving working practices. It is
important to consider synergies between
adaptation measures. For example, low-flow
water fittings can reduce water demand for
buildings in areas of water stress, and also
reduce energy costs for water heating. Thus, one
cost outlay may contribute to multiple savings.
cost of implementation, each on a 1-3 scale. The
overall score was then
Risk
Effectiveness
Cost
Those with the highest overall score were
identified as most desirable. For example, the risk
of overheating was rated as high (3), the
effectiveness of allowing access to outside space
was rated as high (3) and the cost as low (1),
resulting in a maximum score of 9.
‘High cost options’ involve decisions on large-scale planning and investments with high irreversibility. In
view of the considerable consequences at stake, the significant investment costs and the long-lived
nature of the infrastructure, uncertainties in future climate projections play a crucial role when making
decisions about whether to implement high-regret adaptation measures. Justifying these options depends
on the risk appetite of the organisation and an understanding of the opportunity costs of over-adaptation
against the potential impact of under-adaptation. For example, a development may be located on a site
with an ostensibly low flood risk, and implementing defences against the remote possibility of surface
water flooding may be prohibitively expensive. However, if the development were a nuclear power station,
the potential consequences may be so severe that a wider margin of safety is justified.
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7.1
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Assessing the justification for adaptation options
For ‘no regrets’ and ‘low regrets’ adaptation options, the justification for action is relatively straightforward.
The costs are low, and the total benefits are expected to outweigh the costs. This may also be the case
for some ‘win-win’ options. In these cases detailed assessment of the value of the adaptation strategies
may not be needed to justify their implementation.
For ‘high cost’ and some ‘win-win’ options the costs are likely to be high and the benefits more complex.
A more detailed assessment of the value of the adaptation strategies may be needed to justify their
implementation. The Climate Ready Support Service is producing guidance on assessing the financial
and non-financial benefits of high-cost adaptation options, particularly considering the impacts of flooding
and overheating (due Autumn 2013). In addition, the guidance below can be used to help in making this
assessment.
Figure 6 Cost-benefit comparison for adaptation strategies
7.2
Guidance on assessing the value of adaptation strategies
Resource
Description
Where to find it
Costing the impacts of
climate change in the
UK and Costings
spreadsheet, UKCIP
These guidelines set out a clear, consistent
methodology for quantifying the economic cost
of a range of climate impacts, so that the cost
can be directly compared to the cost of
implementing adaptation measures.
http://www.ukcip.org.uk/wor
dpress/wpcontent/PDFs/Costings_ov
erview.pdf
Accounting for the
Effects of Climate
Change, Defra
Guidance for appraising climate change costs
and the benefits of adaptation measures.
http://archive.defra.gov.uk/
environment/climate/docum
ents/adaptationguidance.pdf
Shaping climateresilient development,
Economics of Climate
Adaptation Working
Group
Presents examples of assessing the costs and
benefits of climate change adaptation,
although this report mainly focusses on
regional-scale adaptation.
http://ec.europa.eu/develop
ment/icenter/repository/EC
A_Shaping_Climate_Resile
nt_Development.pdf
© MBE KTN 2013
http://www.ukcip.org.uk/cos
tings/costing-spreadsheet/
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Resource
Description
Where to find it
Climate change
adaptation by design,
Town and Country
Planning Association
Contains information on the benefits of
adaptation, and how some adaptation
measures result in multiple benefits.
http://www.tcpa.org.uk/pag
es/climate-changeadaptation-by-design.html
Your social housing in
a changing climate,
London Climate
Change Partnership
Includes an example of cost-benefit
assessment of adaptation measures for social
housing
http://climatelondon.org.uk/
wpcontent/uploads/2013/02/Y
our-social-housing-in-achanging-climate.pdf
Potential costs and
benefits of adaptation
options: A review of
existing literature.
Technical paper UNFCCC
Reviews methods of costing adaptation
options and assessing their benefits.
http://unfccc.int/resource/d
ocs/2009/tp/02.pdf
Climate change: the
cost of inaction and
the cost of adaptation,
European
Environment Agency
Report on the likely costs of not adapting to
climate change, with complementary
information on the costs of adaptation
http://www.eea.europa.eu/p
ublications/technical_report
_2007_13
Now the priority risks to a development or project have been identified and potential adaptation options
costed, a case for adaptation measures to be factored into the project can be made.
Making the case for a client to respond to climate risks with high impacts and certainty, and to adopt ‘no
regrets’ and ‘low regrets’ adaptation measures, is likely to be more straightforward compared to
responding to more tenuous climate risks and adopting high cost adaptation measures. Where the latter
is concerned, allowing capacity to adapt in the future may be a more pragmatic approach.
Even if only ‘no regrets’ and ‘low regrets’ adaptation measures can be accommodated in the short term,
this will at least will begin to ground climate change adaptation principles into developments and set the
scope and opportunity for further adaptation in the future.
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8.
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Case studies: Design for Future Climate
The Design for Future Climate competition was launched by the Technology Strategy Board in 2010 to
provide funding for the development of adaptation strategies for new build and refurbishment projects.
In total, 48 projects received funding through the project. From these, we have selected four example
projects to demonstrate the process outlined in this guidance, and to illustrate approaches to developing
adaptation strategies for your own business and projects. More information on these and other Design for
Future Climate projects can be found at the MBE KTN website:
https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/design-for-future-climate
8.1
Co-operative Head Office, Manchester – Buro Happold
The Co-operative head office is a new, high-specification office building in Manchester City Centre. Buro
Happold undertook the climate change adaptation study during the detailed design and early construction
stages of the project. The initial building design already incorporated a number of modern adaptation
measures, such as shading, insulation and rainwater harvesting.
© MBE KTN 2013
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
A climate change risk assessment was carried out using the UKCP09 climate projections. Due to the
expected lifespan of the building, the projections for the 2030s and 2050s were used to assess the
climate change impacts. The primary risks
identified were overheating and flooding.
Business advantages
Adaptation measures were selected for analysis
and assessed using the Adaptation Wizard. The
measures chosen were:

Double-skin façade

Earth duct (air supplied via buried duct to
benefit from stable ground temperatures

Management and operational measures
(flexible working)

Improved staff awareness and
preparedness

Increased flood attenuation tank
The project resulted in economic benefits for
both the engineers and the clients. The
engineers gained knowledge and expertise
which can be used for technical advantage
when advising other clients. The client gains
from the fact that the building hardware will
not need to be upgraded in the future to cope
with overheating, and the productivity of the
employees is predicted to be improved thanks
to incorporating their comfort needs up front
in the building design.
One of the adaptation measures expected to
be most effective is the adaptation of
management and operational measures to
improve the adaptive capacity of individual
staff. While this will require on-going training
and practice, it is a relatively low-cost
measure for significant productivity gain.
The engineers used building energy modelling and
dynamic thermal modelling to generate predictions
of energy use and internal comfort under a number
of future scenarios, to show the effectiveness of the adaptation measures. Improving staff awareness and
preparedness was found to be one of the most effective adaptation measures, while being very low-cost
to implement.
The approach to surface water management was to size the drainage system to cope with a 1 in 100 year
event with a 30% additional allowance for climate change. The engineers used drainage analysis
software to determine the response of the drainage system to such an event, and to 1 in 200,300, 500
and 1000 year events to test the robustness of the design.
8.2
Oxford University Press, Oxford – Hoare Lea
This project involved the refurbishment and extension of the Oxford University Press (OUP) existing office
space. The study found that many of the existing features of the building were beneficial in reducing
climate risks, such as a heavyweight concrete structure with a large amount of exposed concrete,
allowing the use of thermal mass to attenuate temperature swings.
The risk assessment for the site identified seven major risks:

Need for additional cooling: The number of hours during which natural ventilation can be used for
cooling effectively is predicted to decrease as external temperatures increase, resulting in greater
demand for mechanical cooling.

Mismatch in heating capacity and load: As the external temperatures increase, the demand for
heating will reduce, resulting in boilers running inefficiently at partial load.

Need for more comfortable outdoor space: The external spaces used by staff currently have very little
shading available. This may lead to them being uncomfortable spaces for people to spend time in.
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment

Risk of flood damage to façade: Above 450mm from ground level, the façade material is render which
is likely to be damaged if flood water reaches this level.

Downpipe capacities: Using hypothetical extreme rainfall scenarios, the flows through the downpipes
were found to be above capacity.

Increased rainwater run-off and attenuation: The site is in an low-risk area for flooding by sea or
rivers. However, the potential for flooding during high-intensity storms is less well understood.

Impacts of utility supplies: Investigations
revealed that the gas suppliers did not have a
contingency plan in place to ensure the supplies
are flood-proof. Therefore, there may be a risk of
losing gas supply during extreme weather
events.
The risks were assessed using climate projections
where available. Predictions of flooding due to
extreme rainfall were not available, and so
recommendations were made based on hypothetical
scenarios. Where the adaptation to these risks did
not involve substantial structural adaptation, these
were effectively ‘Category 2’ risks, which require ongoing monitoring, rather than immediate action.
Business advantages
The engineers on this project indicate that
this project has helped develop their
understanding of designing more
adaptable buildings. This will lead to an
improved service for their clients, and is a
differentiator when bidding for future
projects.
The client’s desire was to achieve the best
building possible, and the adaptation
measures that have been put in place will
ensure that the building will remain at the
highest standards long into the 21st
Century.
A suite of adaptation measures to mitigate each of
the risks above was compiled and costed, with
proposed timescales for implementation. While a distinct cost-benefit analysis was not carried out, this
was left for the client to do when they come to selecting the measures they wish to proceed with.
© MBE KTN 2013
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8.3
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
100 City Road, London – Arup
This study assessed the climate resilience of a new build office block in central London. As a highspecification, modern development, many effective adaptation measures were included in the initial
design such as exposed thermal mass, generous floor
heights and radiant cooling.
Through risk assessment workshops, the major
climate change risk was identified as overheating of
the internal spaces. Comparisons were made between
a 2005 Test Reference Year (TRY) and the UKCP09
climate projections for 2020, 2050 and 2080, with the
annual hours of overheating found to increase from 29
in 2005 to 615 in 2080.
Ten strategies were proposed to mitigate the impact of
increasing temperatures. Dynamic thermal modelling
was used to test the efficacy of each of these
strategies.
Following a cost-benefit analysis of all of the
strategies, those chosen to go forward with were:
 Increasing the maximum summer temperature
from 26°C to 28°C as users are likely to adapt to
higher temperatures as the climate warms. This is a
low-cost adaptation that delivers significant energy
savings.

Night time cooling to be designed into the building management to take advantage of the
available free cooling. This, again, is a low-cost, low-complexity adaptation strategy that delivers
significant energy savings and enhanced comfort level.

Increase potential to integrate shading devices at a later date. While increased shading does not
deliver a positive cost-benefit balance in current conditions, it is expected to be more
economically feasible by 2050.
Increasing the openable areas in the façade to enhance
natural ventilation was also considered, and found to offer
potential savings. However, this was not implemented due
to safety concerns associated with the very large opening
areas required. This measure may be implemented in the
future if these concerns could be overcome.
For this particular building, certain adaptations were
influenced by the requirements of the owner of the building
(e.g. structural adaptations such as external shading and
ventilation systems), and others were influenced by the
tenants’ requirements (e.g. relaxing the thermal comfort
criteria, limiting equipment gains). It was, therefore,
necessary to communicate with both stakeholder groups
to explain the benefits of the adaptations.
© MBE KTN 2013
Business advantages
The project provided the engineers with
an opportunity to enhance their
expertise, and can now be used as an
example of the firm’s expertise in
adaptation.
The building owners will benefit from
reduced energy costs, reduced future
upgrade costs, and being able to use the
building’s adaptive capacity as a selling
point to prospective clients.
The tenants will benefit from the
productivity benefits of a working
environment which is comfortable yearround, including during heat-waves and
as the climate warms up.
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8.4
Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Edge Lane, Liverpool – Medical
Architecture
This project assessed a new build, single-storey
mental health facility in Liverpool. A climate
change risk assessment was carried out to
identify risks in the short, medium and long term,
using the UKCP09 climate projections for 2030,
2050 and 2080.
The major risk for the development was
identified as maintaining comfort levels, which is
of particular concern for a medical facility,
although structural and water management risks
were also assessed. In particular, the access
requirements mandate the use of thresholds at
ground level, so water ingress could potentially
be a problem if local flooding occurred.
Business advantages
As an architectural practice specialising in
medical facilities, the experience of this
project provides the architects with expertise
and experience which they can use to their
advantage in marketing their skills.
The clients will have a facility which operates
to a high standard for many years, with
savings in energy costs and the potential
costs of adapting for comfort which would
have been incurred if this adaptation
assessment had not been carried out.
The value of such a facility is, of course, not
defined solely in terms of financial factors,
and the needs of patients have been
considered a high priority at all stages. The
climate change adaptation measures will help
to maintain the comfort conditions required
for successful treatment and rehabilitation.
A range of potential adaptation measures was
initially proposed for managing the climate risks.
A cost-benefit analysis was carried out using
Oxford Brookes University’s Climate Change Hazards and Risk Assessment to quantify the risks, and
dynamic thermal modelling to quantify the effectiveness of the measures.
© MBE KTN 2013
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
Those measures with the highest ‘score’ (high risk and high effectiveness) were recommended to for
implementation. After discussion with the client about their requirements and concerns, the implemented
adaptation measures included:

Shading using planting

Night ventilation

Use of reflective materials

Access to external spaces to alleviate overheating

Shaded parking areas and pathways

High levels of insulation and air tightness, with heat recovery in winter to maintain constant
temperatures

Low water use fittings to reduce use of fresh water

Slot drainage at thresholds to prevent water ingress

Selection of plants to take advantage of transpiration cooling, and extensive planting around the site
to modify the microclimate and avoid any heat island effect.
Other measures which may become necessary in the medium to long-term have also been identified and
recommended for future implementation. These measures will provide a pleasant, consistent environment
for both staff and patients over the course of the century.
9.
Recommended reading
The reports included here provide detailed information on various aspects of adapting to climate change.
These reports go in to far greater detail than this guidance, and are recommended for those who wish to
develop a deeper understanding of the issues. These reports also contain guidance which is useful in
completing the various stages of this guidance.
Economics of Climate Resilience (2013)
This extensive report, compiled by a consortium of Ecofys, Frontier Economics and Irbaris, was
published in 2013. The report assesses the UK’s capacity to adapt to the future challenges of climate
change and the degree to which adaptation action is already being taken or planned. The work was
commissioned by Defra and the Devolved Administrations in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to
inform the UK’s first National Adaptation Programme report. The report is built around five themes, with
the ‘Buildings and Infrastructure’ and ‘Business and Services’ themes directly relevant to those operating
in the built environment.
Design for Climate Change (2013)
Architect Bill Gething and journalist Katie Puckett have authored this book, published by the Royal
Institute of British Architects (RIBA), on designing for adaptation in the construction sector. The book
focusses on three key questions: how today’s buildings will perform in the future climate; how designs can
be future-proofed, and at what cost; and how can designers, contractors and suppliers communicate the
challenges and potential solutions to their clients.
UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (2012)
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
The UK CCRA is an assessment, commissioned by Defra, of over 100 climate-related risks, and their
potential impact for eleven sectors or research areas. The built environment is one of the eleven sectors.
The sector report for the built environment identifies the major climate-related risks as: heating and
cooling; urban heat island effects; effectiveness of green space; subsidence; flooding; and the water
supply-demand deficit.
Companies, communities and climate change (2011)
This is a guide to sustainable development and adaptation for businesses and communities, compiled by
Caring for Climate, a joint venture between the UN, Oxfam and the World Resources Institute. The
report outlines a four-point business case for adaptation and discusses the dangers of maladaptation
(adaptation that has negative consequences elsewhere), potential approaches to adaptation and policy
measures which may assist in implementing effective adaptation.
Design for Future Climate: Opportunities for adaptation in the built environment (2010)
This report by architect Bill Gething, published by the Technology Strategy Board (TSB) provides
guidance for designing and adapting buildings in the UK for climate change. The report is structured
around three key areas: designing for comfort; construction; and managing water. The report also
includes one-page summaries of issues and opportunities for each area, to use as quick references for
designers.
Climate change impacts decision framework for DCMS sectors: Guidance on financial resilience
(2010)
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) commissioned Arup to compile this guide to help
creative organisations to improve their financial resilience to climate change. While targeted at
organisations which fall under the scope of DCMS, much of the guidance is also relevant to the built
environment.
Shaping climate-resilient development (2009)
This report by the Economics of Climate Adaptation Working Group presents a decision-making
framework for climate change adaptation, built around two sets of tools. The first quantifies the total
climate risk for a location, and the second uses cost-benefit analysis to evaluate the most appropriate
adaptation measures. The report includes a number of case studies, including one for Hull, UK. The study
focusses on flood, wind and sea-level risks. The study shows that expected losses for Hull were
estimated at $55.3m per year in 2008, and are expected to increase to between $78.2m and $96.0m. The
cost-benefit analysis shows that 65% of the total loss can be averted with cost-effective measures such
as training, sea and river defences, flood proofing and increased drainage, among others.
London’s Commercial Building Stock and Climate Change Adaptation: Design, Finance and Legal
Implications (2009)
The London Climate Change Partnership published this report on the commercial implications of
climate change adaptation. The report includes sections on planning, project valuation and legal issues.
While the report is focussed on implications for London’s commercial building stock, the information and
conclusions are broadly applicable to the built environment throughout the UK.
Adapting to Climate Change: A Business Approach (2008)
This report, by the Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions, outlines a case for businesses to adapt to
climate change in order to reduce vulnerability to risk. The report provides a methodology for identifying
© MBE KTN 2013
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment
risks within the business, in the supply chain and in the wider context. These risks are then categorised
into three groups: those requiring immediate action; those requiring on-going monitoring of the climate
conditions; and those which do not require action with regard to climate change. Three example case
studies are presented of a large utility company, an insurance provider and a major multinational mining
company.
Climate change adaptation by design (2007)
The Town and Country Planning Association compiled this report to outline the need for planning to
consider adaptation to climate change. The report summarises the risks of climate change, and highlights
a number of potential advantages of adaptation. They point out how many adaptation strategies result in
multiple benefits, and how adaptation can protect investments and reduce insurance costs.
10.
Web-based climate change adaptation resources for the built environment
These online resources provide easy access to guidance, tools and data that can be used to help you
make the case for adaptation. They are included here as a reference points for both those interested in
developing an adaptation strategy and those with a broader interest in climate change adaptation issues
in the UK.
10.1 UK Regional Resources
Climate UK (http://www.climateuk.net/) acts as an umbrella organisation for regional climate partnerships
across the UK. These regional groups are an excellent source of climate change adaptation information
and case studies specific to a particular region.

Adaptation Scotland http://www.adaptationscotland.org.uk

Climate Northern Ireland http://www.climatenorthernireland.org.uk/

Welsh Government http://wales.gov.uk/

Climate Change Northwest http://www.climatechangenorthwest.co.uk/

Sustainability West Midlands http://www.sustainabilitywestmidlands.org.uk/

Climate South West http://climatesouthwest.org/

Your Climate – Yorkshire and Humber http://www.yourclimate.org/

Climate East Midlands http://www.climate-em.org.uk/

Climate South East http://www.climatesoutheast.org.uk/

Climate North East http://www.climatenortheast.com/

Sustainability East http://www.sustainabilityeast.org.uk/

London Climate Change Partnership http://climatelondon.org.uk/
10.2 Climate change adaptation resources
Climate Ready (http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/research/137557.aspx) the Environment
Agency’s climate ready support service provides practical resources and information to help businesses
and other organisations live with the changing climate, now and in the future. Useful resources include:
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Guidance for making the case for climate change adaptation in the built
environment

Adaptation Wizard: Provides a process to identify vulnerability to climate risks and select adaptation
strategies

BACLIAT (Business Areas Climate Impacts Assessment Tool): Useful for exploring the implications of
climate change for your business

Climate change adaptation: building the business case. Produced by IEMA (with Defra and the
Environment Agency) for environment and sustainability professionals this guide will help the reader
identify and build effective business case for adaptation.
(http://www.iema.net/readingroom/articles/cca-business-case-guidance)

Assessing and managing climate change risks in supply chains helps businesses identify climate
risks and opportunities and demonstrates how this understanding can be integrated into established
business practices for addressing risk across supply chains.
UKCIP (http://www.ukcip.org.uk/) provide information and guidance on climate change adaptation. They
have a range of tools available which can be used to assess and adapt to climate risks.

Risk Framework: A decision-making framework to help judge the significance of climate risks relative
to other business risks

Identifying Adaptation Options: advice and guidance on identifying potential adaptations
MBE KTN Climate Change Adaptation Group (https://connect.innovateuk.org/web/climate-changeadaptation/) is an online portal, providing up-to-date information on climate change adaptation projects
and initiatives, including the outputs from the Design for Future Climate competition projects.
ClimateCost – the Full Costs of Climate Change (http://www.climatecost.cc/) is a major research project
on the economics of climate change
UK Green Building Council, “Pinpont” (http://pinpoint.ukgbc.org/) is a climate change resource search
engine. The resources available include case studies, guidance, tools and policy documents.
ClimateWise (http://www.climatewise.org.uk/) is a global insurance industry group encouraging action on
climate change risks.
Water UK (http://www.water.org.uk/home/policy/climate-change/adaptation-briefing) provides guidance
on how climate change will affect water supplies in the UK.
Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) (http://www.cibse.org/) provides a
range of technical guidance documents and resources on adapting buildings to climate risks including
overheating, water efficiency and flood risk.
Adaptation and Resilience in a Changing Climate – Coordination Network (ARCC CN)
(http://www.arcc-cn.org.uk/project-summaries/) The ARCC CN brings together researchers and
stakeholders involved in adaptation to climate change in p the built environment and infrastructure
sectors. Its website provides one page summaries and links to further information for research projects
that are part of the network.
© MBE KTN 2013