Dr Julia Baker, Technical Director of Nature Services at Mott MacDonald, explains why the transport sector is best placed to tackle the Nature, Climate and Resilience crisis
We are facing a global climate crisis. 2023 was the hottest year on record. Worldwide temperatures in 2024 are likely to exceed 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels – a significant milestone – with extreme weather, drought, flooding and wildfires becoming the new normal. At the same time, we face a global biodiversity emergency. These crises of Nature, Climate and Resilience are inextricably linked, so we need to tackle them simultaneously. Nature is such a great tool for tackling climate change and strengthening our resilience to the effects of climate change, but all too often, within the infrastructure industry, Nature’s power is overlooked and underutilised.
Joining the dots
Fortunately, Nature is fast rising up corporate and political agendas. The impetus to enhance Nature on our infrastructure developments is growing – the introduction of England’s mandatory Biodiversity Net Gain (BNG) for most new developments this year was a major turning point. But what does this look like in practice?
For the transport industry, this means designing, building and maintaining transport infrastructure in ways that enhance Nature, and making connections between Nature, Climate and Resilience so that “Nature” is not another silo but integrated within one holistic environmental strategy. The starting point is to design transport projects in ways that enhance Nature, while also “joining the Nature-Climate-Resilience dots”. Enhancing Nature is intrinsically connected to our efforts to tackle climate change and to strengthen our resilience to its effects. For example, there’s no point in designing biodiversity-rich habitats along transport networks if you don’t simultaneously take into account the impact of future climate change on them. Then, by building climate resilience into biodiversity-rich habitats, these habitats can strengthen the resilience of the transport network. This holistic approach requires a radical mindset shift. We need to see Nature as an asset alongside traditional hard engineering assets and mainstream the integration of Nature, Climate and Resilience into our decision-making.
Driving change
The transport sector has an opportunity to get ahead of the curve and adopt this integrated approach to Nature, Climate and Resilience. There is a wider drive for sustainability in the industry and there are already extensive green corridors along transport networks. By capitalising on these, the transport sector can be the blueprint for this consolidated Nature-Climate-Resilience approach that other industries follow.
It’s already starting to happen. The UK Government’s Department for Transport (DfT) published its Transport Adaptation Strategy for consultation earlier this year, which sets the vision for adaptation of the sector to climate change. This includes promoting ‘Nature-based adaptation solutions’ that enhance biodiversity, strengthen resilience and help to achieve net zero goals. This can be done and, while it takes a step-change from siloed thinking, it will be the greatest change we’ll ever make.
What can the transport sector do?
At the International Transport Forum 2024 Annual Summit in Leipzig, Mott MacDonald co-hosted a panel discussion with the DfT where we discussed what’s needed to truly embed an integrated approach to Nature, Climate and Resilience within the sector. Key points included the need for:
- Culture change supported by clear and sustained leadership for the adoption of an integrated Nature, Climate and Resilience approach.
- Understanding of the performance of Nature like we understand the performance of assets – for example, we have climate thresholds for hard engineering assets – and we need to monitor and collect evidence on where and how well Nature works.
- Making the evidence of the benefits of Nature-based Solutions comprehensive and accessible to decision makers, project managers, engineers and designers within the industry.
- Assessing and measuring all impacts from the transport sector on Nature, most especially impacts on Nature across value chains. Only then we can see the full extent of biodiversity loss caused by the transport sector and the actions we need to take to firstly avoid and reduce this loss, and secondly make sure the transport sector plays it part in supporting a Nature Positive future.
It was an excellent panel discussion and showed the motivation, interest and building commitment for the transport sector to adopt an integrated and consolidated approach to Nature, Climate and Resilience. Ultimately, our transport networks are not just about getting people to their destination safely, but doing so in ways that truly support our planet.
Resources:
Join the dots – Mott MacDonald
Development that delivers for both people and planet – Mott MacDonald
Developing an Integrated Approach to Green Infrastructure in Italy: 2023 report by OECD and ITF
Information on ITF 2025 Summit on “Enhancing Transport Resilience to Global Shocks”
Transport Policy Matters 