Should Remediation and Restoration Projects Factor in a Changing Climate?

摘要

Understanding Climate Risks for Remediation and Restoration Projects. Remediationand restoration projects are usually designed and developed based on historicalclimatic conditions and existing local exposure to coastal processes and flooding. Thisposes a significant risk to the remediation industry, site owners and operators if thesesites do not meet the challenge of changing climatic conditions.How exposed are existing sites to increases in extreme rainfall generating flooding orsea level rise causing coastal erosion, salt water intrusion and reducing drainagecapacity? Key climate risks to remediation and restoration projects will be identifiedbased on observed trends and projected changes in climatic conditions.Radium Hill Mine and Port Pirie Climate Risk Assessment Case Study. The RadiumHill Mine and Port Pirie Climate Risk Assessment in South Australia will be used as acase study to explore the potential climate impacts on mining activity and waste contaminationcontrol. The case study assessed mining and process waste storage facilities andport assets. The climate risk assessment formed part of the environmental impact assessmentfor the closure and future uses of the sites.There is uncertainty about future climatic conditions and timing so a strategic, riskbasedapproach was applied to respond to observed changes as well as projected changesin climate. The aim was to increase preparedness and resilience of site remediation andrestoration projects.Making Decisions in an Uncertain Climate. This presentation also explores the lessonslearnt from the “Optimizing Adaptation Investment” projects for the Australian GovernmentDepartment of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency including coastal urbanareas, water supply and rail infrastructure case studies. These projects are the first of theirkind in Australia and are considered internationally as a leading example of economiccost benefit analysis to inform decision making when responding to a changing climaticconditions.Effectively determining specific adaptation responses to climate change risks in termsof the range of options, the best scale of response for each option and importantly at whattime the solutions should be implemented for best value. Remediation and restorationprojects require the integration of climate risk into their decision making. The followingelements are important for informed decision making:1.Understanding the uncertainty of weather and climate change impacts2.Reducing the uncertainty through economic modeling and cost benefit analysistools3.Optimizing the right timing and scale of various solutions