Climate Risk in Construction
As the climate crisis accelerates, its impacts are increasingly visible beneath our feet. For the construction sector, this marks a turning point. Ground conditions once considered stable are shifting due to changing weather patterns and with that shift comes a new category of risk that is both technical and systemic: climate related geotechnical risk.
From foundation failures to slope instability, the construction industry is being forced to re-evaluate how climate change affects the very ground on which infrastructure is built. This is no longer a theoretical issue. It is a practical, immediate challenge that demands new approaches to investigation, design and risk management.
Rising temperatures, heavier rainfall, longer dry spells and sea level rise are reshaping geotechnical conditions around the world. Expansive clays react to moisture changes with significant volume shifts. Prolonged drought can lead to desiccation and shrinkage of soils, weakening foundations. Sudden or extreme rainfall increases the likelihood of landslides, erosion and ground collapse.
These risks were once seen as regionally specific or long term. Today, they are becoming more widespread, unpredictable and relevant across nearly all types of construction projects.
Climate related geotechnical risks are also having an impact beyond engineering. Insurers and legal professionals are seeing a rise in claims and disputes linked to infrastructure failures caused or accelerated by climate conditions. Courts are increasingly expecting developers and contractors to demonstrate that climate risk was not just considered but actively accounted for in their planning and execution.
In this changing landscape, relying on historic weather patterns or traditional geotechnical models is no longer sufficient. Forward looking design must incorporate climate projections, scenario planning and location specific risk assessments that reflect future conditions, not just past performance.
To effectively address climate related ground risks, the construction and infrastructure sectors must adopt a more integrated, data informed and climate conscious approach to ground investigation and design. This includes:
- Identifying and classifying climate linked geo risks early in project planning
- Using future climate scenarios to inform site investigation and foundation design
- Incorporating flexibility and adaptability into design standards
- Sharing knowledge and lessons learned from ground related failure events
- Establishing clear documentation to demonstrate due diligence in the event of legal or insurance scrutiny
This shift is not just about technical accuracy. It is about long-term resilience, accountability and the ability to deliver infrastructure that stands the test of time in a world of increasing uncertainty.
As climate change continues to reshape the built environment, understanding its impact on geotechnical conditions must become a fundamental part of how we design and build.
Those who lead in recognising and managing this reality will not only reduce exposure to legal and financial consequences. They will also be the ones to shape a safer, more sustainable future for the sector.
RSK Global Experts supports this transition with one of the industry’s largest in-house pools of multidisciplinary specialists, providing expert witness, expert testimony and advisory services across construction and infrastructure disputes. Our teams are actively engaged in helping clients understand, address and manage climate-related technical risks, from early project stages through to claims and litigation.
To learn more about how the industry is responding and preparing for a climate-resilient future, read about RSK Geosciences’ partnership with CIRIA to develop the first construction sector climate change guide, featured in Climate Global News.
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