Page 29 - Frontier Technologies to Protect the Environment and Tackle Climate Change

Frontier Technologies to Protect the Environment and Tackle Climate Change

Longer, hotter periods will continue to become the
norm in many cities, making city life very taxing. The
‘heat island effect’ will be exacerbated by concrete
surfaces and the lack of greenery in many cities.
Air conditioning systems will contribute more to
greenhouse gas emissions , making it urgent to find
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alternative ways of cooling buildings, including by taking
inspiration from traditional architectural designs.
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Temperature, however, is just one indicator of climate change; changes in the global distribution of
rainfall are also having major impact around the world. Rising sea levels – largely due to the thermal
expansion of sea water and melting of the largest glaciers, like in Greenland and Antarctica – are
another impact of climate change of deep concern for those living in low-lying urban coastal areas.
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The global mean sea level reportedly rose 3.7 mm higher in 2018 than the previous year. This is
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exposing coastal areas and islands to a greater risk of flooding and submersion. The resulting risks
to transportation, especially in the case of coastal transport infrastructure, pose significant threats
to global trade and development. International maritime transport carries over 80 per cent of the
volume of world trade and provides access to global markets for all countries, including those that
are landlocked. 83

For Small Island Developing States, which are already exposed to major natural hazards, the outlook
is particularly alarming. Their critical reliance on coastal transport infrastructure, in particular:
seaports and airports, worsens their susceptibility to climate change impacts such as rising sea-
level and extreme weather events. These impacts threaten trade and disaster relief efforts, as well
as international tourism, which is the crown jewel of economic development in SIDS that requires
secure and reliable international transport connections. Yet SIDS, and other developing countries,
have limited capacity to adapt and build the resilience of their transport infrastructure to cope with

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