The impacts of climate change on the transport network
The UK's changing climate has important consequences for transport. These include the increased risk of flooding on our rail and road networks, damage to rail tracks and road surfaces in extreme weather conditions and potential damage to earthworks for embankments and bridges.
This page brings together reports and information concerning the likely impacts of climate change on the transport network so that transport practitioners are better equipped to assess the risks of climate change and adapt their activities accordingly.
- The Changing Climate: Impact on the Department for Transport - April 2004
This report sets out the key impacts which climate change could have on transport and makes recommendations to ensure that the Department for Transport and others are ready:
http://www.dft.gov.uk/strategy/climatechangeimpacts/dftreport
Information on what we are doing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transport can be found in the 'Sustainable Travel', 'Aviation' and 'Vehicles and the Environment' sections of the DfT website.
For further information or to comment, please email:
Climatechangeimpacts@dft.gsi.gov.uk
Non-DfT climate change reports and websites
Reports
-
Foresight Future Flooding report - Executive Summary - Office of Science and Technology - April 2004
http://www.foresight.gov.uk/Previous_Projects/Flood_and_Coastal_Defence/Reports_and_Publications/Executive_Summary/Executive_Summary.html -
Rail Safety and Standards Board (RSSB) report - Railway Safety implications of weather, climate and climate change - April 2003
http://www.rssb.co.uk/pdf/reports/research/Safety implications of weather, climate and climate change.pdf -
Greater London Authority (GLA) report - London's Warming: the impacts of climate change on London - October 2002
http://www.london.gov.uk/gla/publications/environment/londons_warming02.pdf
Websites
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UK Climate Impacts Programme (UKCIP) website
http://www.ukcip.org.uk/ -
Defra Climate Change website
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environment/climatechange/index.htm -
Defra Flood Management website
http://www.defra.gov.uk/environ/fcd/policy/strategy.htm -
Hadley Centre website (Met Office)
http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/hadleycentre/

