Climate Change Interdependencies Report

Tender description

A modern, efficient, networked infrastructure necessarily creates interdependencies between infrastructure sectors, many of which are susceptible to the impacts of climate change. For example, well managed energy, water and transport networks depend on Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) for control and monitoring of their condition, which entails dependency on energy. The ICT and energy infrastructure are becoming increasingly interdependent, since the smart grid needs ICT for control, and will soon not function without it. There are also interdependencies within sectors, for example, the London Underground system is dependent on links with mainline rail and roads; power stations require a power supply to function. Local and national infrastructure also interconnect, especially in the transport sector, and interdependencies exist between UK infrastructure and systems overseas. HS2 requires a contractor to identify the key interdependencies affecting HS2, provide a description of each of those interdependencies, and to develop a method for categorising, assessing and prioritising vulnerabilities for HS2 relating to the effects of climate change. A further requirement is then to produce a detailed case study which executes the developed methodology.