Rising Heat: Why Our Infrastructure Needs to Adapt

Roads melting. Trains slowing. Power plants struggling. Heatwaves aren’t just uncomfortable; they’re an engineering challenge we can’t ignore.

Why Heatwaves Are Increasing: And How We Can Prepare

This post draws on insights from a recent article by the Institution of Civil Engineers: “Why are we getting more heatwaves and how can we prepare?” by ICE President Professor Jim Hall.

We’re seeing more heatwaves than ever before, and the reason is simple: the planet is getting hotter. Since the industrial revolution, the Earth’s average temperature has risen by about 2.2°C. That might not sound huge, but even a small increase in the average makes hot days far more common. In England, the number of days above 28°C has more than doubled, and days over 30°C have tripled.

The knock-on effects

Warmer air can hold more moisture, which means heavier downpours and a greater risk of flooding. At the same time, hotter and drier land increases the risk of wildfires. Rising temperatures also cause sea levels to creep higher through melting ice and expanding seawater.

It’s not just nature that’s feeling the strain, our infrastructure is too...

• Water infrastructure: Dry conditions reduce available water; responses include improving efficiency, fixing leaks with smart sensors, and creating new supply, storage, and transfer systems.

• Transport infrastructure: High temperatures can buckle rail tracks (causing speed restrictions) and make cooling underground systems, like the London Underground, challenging.

• Energy infrastructure: Thermo-electric plants struggle with cooling in hot conditions; inland plants are closing, coastal nuclear plants are being developed, wind is unaffected, and solar benefits from sunny weather.

• Social infrastructure: Schools, hospitals, care homes, and prisons face overheating risks; many buildings are not adapted, and vulnerable populations are most at risk.

  
  

Making infrastructure heat-ready

The UK is starting to adapt. Since 2022, building regulations have required new designs to cope with higher summer temperatures, particularly for homes and spaces used by vulnerable people. Existing buildings will also need upgrades, such as better shading, ventilation, reflective surfaces, and layout changes. Schools, for example, now have dedicated guidance on keeping classrooms cooler.

Air conditioning can be part of the solution, especially if powered by clean energy from a decarbonised grid, which the UK aims to achieve by 2030. Meanwhile, milder winters may reduce heating needs and help cut fossil fuel use.

The role of engineers

Engineers play a crucial part in preparing for extreme heat. They need to stay ahead of climate risks, design with uncertainty in mind, and persuade decision-makers that the time to act is now: before heatwaves become even more severe and frequent.

Read the full article on the ICE website: Why are we getting more heatwaves and how can we prepare?