Potential damage from climate hazards to critical infrastructures in the energy, transport, industrial and social sector could triple by the 2020s, multiply six-fold by mid-century, and surpass 10 times today’s total of 3.4 billion €/year by the end of the 21st century, according to a new JRC study.
Projections indicate that economic losses will be highest for the industry, transport and energy sectors, as they are to multiply economic damage to the infrastructures by 15. The increasing frequency of multiple extreme weather events (where a current 100-year heat wave or 20-year flood may occur every one or two years under the expected future climate conditions) sends a strong signal that the current design, construction, operation and maintenance standards of critical infrastructures in these sectors should be adapted.
Read more: ec.europa.eu/jrc