Glossary Glossary 2026-08-06
What is climate adaptation?
Climate adaptation, also known as climate change adaptation, refers to the measures taken to prepare buildings and infrastructure for the impacts of climate change, such as rising temperatures, extreme weather and increased flooding.
While decarbonisation focuses on reducing emissions, climate adaptation focuses on managing the risks that are already unavoidable.
Why climate adaptation matters
Buildings and infrastructure are increasingly exposed to climate-related risks, including:
- Overheating during hotter summers
- Flooding from intense rainfall
- Damage from storms and extreme weather
- Strain on energy and water systems
For organisations with large estates, net zero is not just a sustainability goal - it’s a strategic operational priority.
What does climate adaptation involve?
Climate adaptation strategies typically include:
Risk assessment
- Identifying climate risks specific to the location and asset type
- Assessing the vulnerability of buildings and infrastructure
Design and retrofit measures
- Improved drainage and flood protection
- Passive cooling and shading solutions
- Resilient materials and construction methods
Operational changes
- Adjusting maintenance regimes
- Updating emergency response plans
- Enhancing monitoring and early warning systems
Climate adaptation in practice
Climate change adaptation is increasingly being integrated into:
- Estate management strategies
- Capital investment planning
- Infrastructure design and upgrades
It is particularly important for public sector estates, critical infrastructure and large property portfolios.
Frequently asked questions
Heatwaves, storms and flooding can affect the performance of buildings and infrastructure, disrupt operations and create risks for occupants. Climate adaptation helps organisations protect assets, maintain essential services and improve the health, safety and comfort of people within the built environment.
Climate-related risks can include overheating, flooding from intense rainfall, storm damage and pressure on energy, water and electrical systems. The risks affecting an individual building or estate will depend on factors such as its location, design, condition and use.
A climate adaptation risk assessment identifies the climate risks affecting a building, infrastructure asset or estate and considers its vulnerability to those risks. It can combine climate modelling and data analysis with building-level engineering insight to help organisations understand where action is most needed and prioritise investment.
Measures can include improved drainage and flood protection, passive cooling and shading, ventilation or cooling upgrades, improvements to building fabric, resilient materials and stronger backup or electrical systems. Adaptation can also involve operational changes, such as adjusting maintenance regimes, updating emergency response plans and enhancing monitoring.
Yes. Climate adaptation can be incorporated into the maintenance, refurbishment and retrofit of existing buildings. The appropriate measures will depend on the risks and vulnerabilities identified for the individual building or estate, ranging from targeted operational changes to physical upgrades.
An organisation can begin by identifying the buildings, assets and services most exposed to climate-related risks. It can then assess vulnerabilities, prioritise the risks with the greatest potential impact and incorporate appropriate actions into estate management strategies, maintenance programmes, capital investment plans and emergency procedures. Equans’ approach moves from climate risk assessment through to practical, engineering-led delivery.