Konstantinos Alexopoulos Konstantinos Alexopoulos Secretary Secretary

Climate Change Climate Change and International Transport Networks: and International Transport Networks:

Overview of main concerns and considerations Overview of main concerns and considerations

Group of Experts on Climate Change impacts and adaptation Group of Experts on Climate Change impacts and adaptation for international transport networks. for international transport networks.

Geneva, September 2011 Geneva, September 2011

Introduction & BackgroundIntroduction & Background

Scientists warn that global emissions must peak within this decade or we Scientists warn that global emissions must peak within this decade or we will face grave consequences, particularly in the developing world, where will face grave consequences, particularly in the developing world, where the vast majority of humanity lives and where the vulnerability to climate the vast majority of humanity lives and where the vulnerability to climate impacts is greatest. impacts is greatest.

IIn 2007, scientists from the n 2007, scientists from the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) (IPCC) predicted that warming oceans and melting glaciers could cause sea levels predicted that warming oceans and melting glaciers could cause sea levels to rise up to 5 meters by the year 2100.to rise up to 5 meters by the year 2100.

Transport is responsible for 23% of world energy-related greenhouse gas Transport is responsible for 23% of world energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Furthermore, the transport sector is the second largest (GHG) emissions. Furthermore, the transport sector is the second largest (and second fastest growing) source of global GHG emissions.(and second fastest growing) source of global GHG emissions.

There is now also scientific evidence to substantiate the claim that There is now also scientific evidence to substantiate the claim that climate change presents serious global risks for water resources, food climate change presents serious global risks for water resources, food security, biodiversity, human settlement, health, living conditions, and security, biodiversity, human settlement, health, living conditions, and international peace and security. Climate Change, therefore, demands international peace and security. Climate Change, therefore, demands an urgent global and coordinated response on multiple levels. an urgent global and coordinated response on multiple levels.

Mitigation and AdaptationMitigation and Adaptation

Climate mitigationClimate mitigation is any is any action taken to permanently action taken to permanently eliminate or reduce the long-term eliminate or reduce the long-term risk and hazards of climate risk and hazards of climate change to human life, property. change to human life, property. The International Panel on The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines Climate Change (IPCC) defines mitigation as: “An anthropogenic mitigation as: “An anthropogenic intervention to reduce the intervention to reduce the sources or enhance the sinks of sources or enhance the sinks of greenhouse gases.” greenhouse gases.”

Climate adaptation refers to the ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes) to moderate potential damage, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences. The IPCC defines adaptation as the, “adjustment in natural or human systems to a new or changing environment.

Countries by carbon dioxide emissions via the burning Countries by carbon dioxide emissions via the burning of fossil fuels (blue the highest). of fossil fuels (blue the highest).

UNECE and Climate ChangeUNECE and Climate Change

So far, the work of the UNECE on climate change has been focusing and So far, the work of the UNECE on climate change has been focusing and continues to work on the mitigation of environmentally harmful effects of continues to work on the mitigation of environmentally harmful effects of inland transport. In particular, activities of the UNECE have targeted the inland transport. In particular, activities of the UNECE have targeted the reduction of emissions of gaseous pollutants and greenhouse gases in the reduction of emissions of gaseous pollutants and greenhouse gases in the road transport sector through more stringent emission requirements for road transport sector through more stringent emission requirements for new vehicles elaborated by the World Forum for Harmonization of new vehicles elaborated by the World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations (WP.29)Vehicle Regulations (WP.29) On the initiative of the UNECE and in cooperation with the other four On the initiative of the UNECE and in cooperation with the other four Regional Commissions of the United Nations, the ForFITS climate change Regional Commissions of the United Nations, the ForFITS climate change and transport project has been launched. The project is funded by the and transport project has been launched. The project is funded by the UN Development Account (UNDA) and aims at developing a uniform UN Development Account (UNDA) and aims at developing a uniform monitoring and assessment tool to evaluate the CO2 footprint of land monitoring and assessment tool to evaluate the CO2 footprint of land transport, taking into account climate-relevant indicators and a set of transport, taking into account climate-relevant indicators and a set of potential actionspotential actions

In addition, the joint programme “Transport, Health and Environment” In addition, the joint programme “Transport, Health and Environment” of the UNECE and World Health Organization (WHO Europe), of the UNECE and World Health Organization (WHO Europe), established in 2002, brings together key players from these sectors established in 2002, brings together key players from these sectors with a view to making policy integration for sustainable transport a with a view to making policy integration for sustainable transport a realityreality

Today, UNECE Transport Division is taking coordinated steps to address also climate change adaptation.

Our Expert Group for climate change impacts and adaptation on International Transport Networks is the start of these initiatives.

Climate Change Impacts on International Transport Climate Change Impacts on International Transport NetworksNetworks

Climatic FactorClimatic Factor ImpactImpact

Heat WavesHeat Waves

a) Melting asphalta) Melting asphaltb) Increased asphalt rutting due to material constraints b) Increased asphalt rutting due to material constraints under severe exposure to heatunder severe exposure to heatc) Thermal expansion on bridge expansion joints and c) Thermal expansion on bridge expansion joints and paved surfacespaved surfacesd) Damage of bridge structure materialsd) Damage of bridge structure materials

DroughtsDroughts Degradation of road foundations due to increased Degradation of road foundations due to increased variation in wet/dry spellsvariation in wet/dry spells

Rising sea levels and coastal erosionRising sea levels and coastal erosion Inundation and/or flooding of coastal road Inundation and/or flooding of coastal road infrastructure and underground road tunnelsinfrastructure and underground road tunnels

Increased frequency of extreme rainfall Increased frequency of extreme rainfall a) Landslides and subsidencea) Landslides and subsidenceb) Higher waterways due to rainfall can submerge, b) Higher waterways due to rainfall can submerge, undermine and wash away bridges undermine and wash away bridges

FloodingFlooding

a) Roads with limited foundations and poor or no a) Roads with limited foundations and poor or no drainage can be washed away or scoureddrainage can be washed away or scouredb) More rapid degradation of subgrade material b) More rapid degradation of subgrade material underneath roads or pavements, leading to loss of underneath roads or pavements, leading to loss of strength and bearing capacitystrength and bearing capacity

StormsStorms Damage to bridges, flyovers, street lighting, signs and Damage to bridges, flyovers, street lighting, signs and service stations. service stations.

Extreme Heat and Cold variability that causes Extreme Heat and Cold variability that causes accelerated thawingaccelerated thawing

Damage to road surfaces, requiring more frequent Damage to road surfaces, requiring more frequent maintenancemaintenance

Road Surfaces and Road Surfaces and road infrastructureroad infrastructure

Climate Change Impacts on International Transport Climate Change Impacts on International Transport NetworksNetworks

Climatic FactorClimatic Factor ImpactImpact

More frequent and intense precipitationMore frequent and intense precipitation Increased risk of flooding of rail linesIncreased risk of flooding of rail lines

Wetter winters and dryer summers-Higher Wetter winters and dryer summers-Higher TemperaturesTemperatures

Increased scour of bridges, increased Increased scour of bridges, increased instability of embankments and increased instability of embankments and increased rail buckling. rail buckling.

Heat wavesHeat waves Degradation of electricity transmission, Degradation of electricity transmission, slope fires and overheating of rolling stock slope fires and overheating of rolling stock equipmentequipment

Storms, higher wind forces and Storms, higher wind forces and thunderstormsthunderstorms

Damage to installations, over-voltage and Damage to installations, over-voltage and effects on signalingeffects on signaling

Rail Infrastructure and Rail Infrastructure and

operationsoperations

Climate Change Impacts on International Transport Climate Change Impacts on International Transport NetworksNetworks

Climatic FactorClimatic Factor ImpactImpact

Dry periods in combination with floods and increased Dry periods in combination with floods and increased rainfallrainfall

Changes in erosion and deposition patterns on river Changes in erosion and deposition patterns on river and canal banksand canal banks

Increase in winter precipitationIncrease in winter precipitation a) Increased frequency of high flow, flooding and a) Increased frequency of high flow, flooding and strong stream conditions (risk for safety)strong stream conditions (risk for safety)b) Difficulties in manoeuvring through curved, narrow b) Difficulties in manoeuvring through curved, narrow channelschannels

Higher water levels and flood flows during the winter Higher water levels and flood flows during the winter monthsmonths

Threat to the structural integrity of infrastructure Threat to the structural integrity of infrastructure such as locks, dams and inland ports and harbors, as such as locks, dams and inland ports and harbors, as well as vessels and bridges (e.g. changes in shape and well as vessels and bridges (e.g. changes in shape and depth of channels and changes in bridge clearance). depth of channels and changes in bridge clearance).

Reduced summer precipitationReduced summer precipitation Low flow conditions – particularly in natural rivers – Low flow conditions – particularly in natural rivers – and water shortages affecting the supply for canalsand water shortages affecting the supply for canals

Low water levelsLow water levels a) Threat for structural integrity and functionality of a) Threat for structural integrity and functionality of infrastructure, such as hydraulic support systems on infrastructure, such as hydraulic support systems on the waterside facethe waterside faceb) Changes in loading depth (and therefore loading b) Changes in loading depth (and therefore loading capacity)capacity)

Changes in water supplyChanges in water supply Effects on sedimentation processes and maintenance Effects on sedimentation processes and maintenance dredging.dredging.

Inland Waterway Inland Waterway

Infrastructure and operationsInfrastructure and operations

Climate Change Impacts on International Transport Climate Change Impacts on International Transport NetworksNetworks

Climatic Factor Impact

Rising sea levels Increase in corrosion rate and degradation over time of materials specifically designed for a particular range of sea level conditions

Change in wind conditions and higher waves a) Effects on offshore loading and unloading operationsb) Changes in overtopping and threat to stability of breakwaters

Erosion or accretion of beaches protecting port structures

Risks for safety of such structures and increased probability of flooding

Changes in storm duration and/or frequency a) Decreased regularity of ports, increased downtime and the requirement for more storage capacity at container terminals for use in times of closureb) Increased construction and maintenance costs at ports and storage facilitiesHigher energy consumption in portsService reliability will be challenged

Port and Hinterland port Port and Hinterland port

infrastructure and operationsinfrastructure and operations

Climate Change Impacts on International Transport Climate Change Impacts on International Transport NetworksNetworks

Increases in temperature are likely to lead to an increase in driver Increases in temperature are likely to lead to an increase in driver discomfort and exhaustion – increased road safety hazarddiscomfort and exhaustion – increased road safety hazard

Use of more costly and more energy-intensive air conditioning systemsUse of more costly and more energy-intensive air conditioning systems

Melting tyres or wearing tread and overheating of equipment such as Melting tyres or wearing tread and overheating of equipment such as diesel engines – increased road safety hazarddiesel engines – increased road safety hazard

More frequent occurrences of difficult driving conditions, or More frequent occurrences of difficult driving conditions, or circumstances where driving becomes impossible – increased road circumstances where driving becomes impossible – increased road

safety hazardsafety hazard

Impacts on vehicles and Impacts on vehicles and

driving conditionsdriving conditions

Climate Change Adaptation on International Climate Change Adaptation on International Transport NetworksTransport Networks

Risk Risk AssessmentAssessment

Adaptation Adaptation ResponseResponse

Greater Greater ResilienceResilience

Vulnerability Vulnerability StudiesStudies

Empirical Empirical StudiesStudies

Assessment of Assessment of projected risksprojected risks

Related Related CostsCosts

Adaptation Adaptation ActionsActions

..Not only ..Not only physicalphysical

strength & strength & durabilitydurability

..recover at a ..recover at a minimal costminimal cost

Without Without loosing loosing its basicits basic

functionsfunctions

Withstand Withstand negative negative impactsimpacts

I would like to thank you for I would like to thank you for your participation!your participation!