The Vulnerability of Energy Infrastructure to Environmental Change

● Much energy infrastructure lies in areas that are predicted to become increasingly physically unstable owing to changes in the environment.

● Already there have been environment-related disruptions to hydroelectric installations, offshore oil and gas production, pipelines, electrical transmission and nuclear power generation.

● As a result of scheduled decommissioning, revised environmental standards, stimulus spending and new development, there is likely to be substantial investment in new energy infrastructure.

● It is critical that new and existing infrastructure be designed or retrofitted for changing environmental conditions.

● It is no longer sufficient only to assess our impact on the environment; now we must also assess the impact of a changing environment on us.

Chatham House