For our industry to design buildings that are resilient to the impacts of climate change, as designers we must be provided with robust, evidence-based design data to allow us to effectively quantify the climate risks facing our designs in the future.
Greenhouse gases, the majority of which have been emitted by humans since the industrial revolution, are being released into the atmosphere in such quantities as to cause rapid and widespread warming of our environment. As a result, we are already seeing an increase in the size and frequency of extreme weather events around the globe, from intense rainfall and flash flooding, to record temperatures, heat waves, and droughts, all of which can impact on the built environment.
This report by David Brownstein, Senior Sustainability Engineer at Cundall, looks at the impact that humans have had on our climate and identifies the risks that must be considered as we prepare for the future. It is the first phase of Cundall’s research project into the incorporation of climate resilience in our designs.