Climate Change Resiliency in Europe
Adapt to a changed climate
Make your climate resiliency priorities a reality
The climate in Continental Europe - including Italy - is shifting. With changes to temperature and precipitation, rising sea levels and decreasing permafrost, the impacts of climate change – on everything from agriculture to biodiversity to summer tourism to rising climate-related mortality rates - have never been more real, nor has the need to act been more urgent.
Resilient and sustainable design can help mitigate many of these impacts. Across the EU, there is a move towards an investment in solutions – like renewable energy - and development that address a changed climate. From the European Union Adaptation Strategy to the European Green Deal, countries, municipalities, and organizations are exploring practical ways to reduce climate-risk and increase climate protection.
See how RWDI is operating globally in a changed climate.
Adaptation Strategies
The conversation has shifted from preventing climate change to adapting to the changed climate. Adaptation is particularly challenging for the simple reason that climate change is not a single issue to solve. Instead, it is a collection of both large and small issues happening simultaneously around the world. Despite the uncertain nature, complexity, and scale of the challenge the changed climate presents, RWDI can help you identify and implement practical solutions that address your specific objectives.
Listed below are a few of the key areas we are working with clients in the EU to adapt to climate change.
Urban Planning
As Europe seeks to invest in sustainable urban regeneration, there is increasing demand for innovative, carbon-neutral projects. Municipalities and developers are striving to identify and deliver projects that contribute to vibrant community development, while also addressing sustainability measures, such as:
- Energy demand
- Renewable energy strategies
- Public transit
Early in the design process, our in-house specialists will deliver the scientific data and engineering insight you need to create a resilient, climate-responsive plan.
Transportation Hubs
Changing climate conditions – including extreme temperatures and precipitation – have a significant impact on transit systems. Such conditions can accelerate the deterioration of your infrastructure’s lifespan, causing increased chances of damage and transportation disruptions.
We can help you mitigate these risks by:
- Increasing the quality and performance of your stations and hubs
- Enhancing staff and passenger safety and comfort
Mitigation Strategies
The changing climate has demonstrated a significant need for sustainable design to ensure continued performance as well as mitigate the environmental impact of projects. RWDI provides support for mitigation at every step of the lifecycle of a project, from helping sustainability goals shape the vision for the entire project and focusing design decisions – including optimizing natural light – to guiding clients through the process for aligning with sustainability standards and methodologies, such as LEED certification, BREEAM, SITES, WELL, and ITACA.
Renewable Energy
Sustainable energy production, such as through solar energy, is a crucial component of ensuring resilient operations. As such, RWDI can assist you in optimizing the performance of your solar panels and other solar energy efforts, including by:
- Evaluating the location and orientation of solar photovoltaic panels
- Leveraging sophisticated tools and proprietary data sets to quantify solar energy potential
Extreme Weather Forecasting
To address a changing climate - specifically one where extreme weather events like wind and rain events are increasing in both frequency and severity - you need quality, targeted insights. Data delivered at the right time in the planning or building process, can help you make effective decisions about weather-related delays, costs, and risks. If you are looking to identify mitigation strategies, minimize operational delays, or increase safety and efficiency, we can help you achieve your objectives.
When weather means money, RWDI can help you make the best decision for your bottom line.