Part of: Climate Change Adaptation

Physical Climate Risk

As we look to build climate resilience into our buildings and communities, it is key that asset owners understand the specific physical climate risk their assets face before they can work to adapt them to our changing climate.

Why is measuring climate-related physical risk important? 

As our climate changes, weather becomes more variable and extreme, and it is more likely that we will experience climate-related hazard events such as floods and heatwaves. Our buildings need to be designed so that they are resilient to these events, but the physical risk our built assets will face is not universal and is dependent on specific locations or building characteristics.  

Therefore, for each built asset we need to measure and understand the risk it will face so that we can suitably adapt our buildings. Without understanding the specifics, our communities will be maladapted. UKGBC is working to empower our members so that they have the tools and expertise they need to measure this risk and then act on it.  

UKGBC’s Framework for Measuring & Reporting Climate-related Physical Risk

In early 2022, we published our Measuring and Reporting Climate-related Physical Risk report that provides industry with step-by-step guidance. It was published ahead of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosure’s recommendations coming into law and lays out the method for reporting risk in line with them. Crucially it wanted to build consensus and fills the gap in a landscape of measurement tools that didn’t sufficiently consider all possible resilience measures or future climate scenarios.  

Since its publication it has been used across the industry, most notably throughout UKGBC’s Physical Risk Labs that saw members using the framework for their own built assets. These labs helped us identify areas that need the most attention from the sector as we navigate measuring physical risk together. As an ongoing priority UKGBC will be continuing to collaborate with our members and wider industry to ensure the built environment has the skills we need to build climate resilience into our everyday practice.  

Learn how to assess physical risk

Resources

Events

Past event

Building Climate Resilience in Bristol

Join UKGBC CEO, Smith Mordak and partners Hoare Lea and BCO for a lively panel event discussing the challenges and opportunities of climate resilience in Bristol.
15 Nov, 2023
Event
In person

Blogs

Climate Change Adaptation

As the climate crisis intensifies and extreme weather events become more common, the UK’s buildings, cities and critical infrastructure, and the communities that use and occupy these, are in increasing danger. It’s vital to address how our buildings and infrastructure can be adapted to remain fit for the future.
View more
Climate Resilience webinar