Transportation Adaptation to Global Climate Change Report

emissions from human activity are unequivocally warming the planet’s climate. Further, the IPCC report ﬁnds that — even with a stabilization of GHG concentrations at current levels — the impact of climate change will lead to potential irreversible impacts.5 The IPCC projects that global temperatures will rise 1.1 to 6.4°C by 2100, and global sea level will rise 18 to 59cm. This warming will have many impacts: on ecosystems, food production, coastlines, human settlements, health, and water availability. Impacts from the changing climate will vary across the globe, and even within North America climate change will have different effects on different regions. Some of the major impacts projected by the IPCC for North America include:

B Coastal communities and habitats will be increasingly stressed by climate change impacts interacting with development and pollution. Population growth and the rising value of infrastructure in coastal areas increase vulnerability to climate variability and climate change, with losses projected to increase as the intensity of tropical storms increases. Current adaptation efforts are uneven, and readiness for increased exposure is low. B There is high confidence that many semiarid areas of the western United States will suffer a decrease in water resources due to climate change. Warming in the western mountain states is projected to cause decreased snow pack, more winter flooding, and reduced summer flows in rivers and streams, exacerbating competition for over-allocated water resources. The extent of drought-affected areas is projected to expand.

Transportation Adaptation to Global Climate Change Report

Articles inside

5.3.3 Executive Policy Actions

5.3 Conclusion

4.2.2 Transportation Planning Processes

5.1.4 Climate Adaptation Legislation

4.2.3 Project Development/NEPA

5.2 Executive Policy Actions

4.2.1 Climate Impacts and Adaptation Research

4.2 Areas for Federal Policy Action

Figure 4.1 A Risk-Assessment Approach to Transportation Decisions

Table 3.2 State Activities Related to Climate Change Adaptation

Table 3.1 Congressional Bills Related to Climate Change Adaptation (110th Congress

3.3 Analysis of State-Level Activities

2.5 Summary of Key Findings from Existing Studies

Table 2.1 Policy Options for Adapting Transportation to Climate Change Identified in Other Sources

2.3 Adaptation Strategies Recommended by Others

2.4 Policy Option Areas Recommended by Others

2.2.5 Arctic Permafrost Thawing and Sea Ice Melt

2.2.4 Temperature Increases

2.2.2 Increased Storm Intensity

Figure 2.1 Average Surface Air Temperature and CO2 Concentrations Since 1880

2.2 Known and Potential Impacts to Transportation Infrastructure Previously Identified

1.0 Introduction

Climate and Energy Legislation

Executive Policy Action

2.2.3 Changes in Precipitation

Figure 1.1 Relationship of Transportation Planning Timeframe and Infrastructure Service Life to Increasing Climate Change Impacts