A new report published today (Wednesday 18 June) underscores the need to adapt transport networks to withstand escalating climate risks and demonstrates that investing in resilience will yield significant economic returns.

The report is the product of a collaboration between international law firm Gowling WLG, London Transport Museum, global engineering firm Arup, and Hitachi Rail, published as part of the Museum’s thought-leadership programme, Interchange. It offers practical, forward-looking strategies to help the sector adapt and thrive in a changing climate. Drawing on insights from the UK and beyond, highlighting real-world innovations from sustainable drainage systems to tools like NatureInsight®, which use data and catchment modelling to optimise nature-based solutions for maximum impact.

Entitled Transport resilience in a changing climate - The case for investment, the report outlines how targeted, forward-thinking investment can safeguard infrastructure, reduce long-term costs, and deliver more reliable, equitable transport systems in the face of climate change.

It details how the transport sector is on the front line of the climate crisis. Floods, heatwaves, and extreme weather events are no longer future threats; they’re here now, disrupting services and endangering lives. In 2024 Storm Bert likely caused an estimated £250-350 million insured losses, disrupted rail services for 90,000 daily passengers at London Paddington, and left 350,000 homes without power. Subsequent repairs to rail lines and roads took weeks, highlighting systemic fragility. By 2070, the UK is expected to experience a 39% increase in winter precipitation as well as increased hourly rainfall intensities in the autumn.

Moreover, the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) has indicated there is an 80% chance one of next five years will exceed 2024 as the warmest on record globally, and a 70% chance that five year average warming for 2025/2029 will be more than 1.5 degrees above pre-industrial levels These changes threaten critical transport infrastructure.

The report tackles the core barriers holding back progress: disconnected goals and fragmented decision-making; a lack of shared tools and data; short-term planning cycles and outdated assumptions; gaps in funding models and risk frameworks. In response to this, the report showcases transformative projects from across the globe including US Federal Climate Adaption Plans, the Marylebone Flyover Rain Gardens and the UK's Green Financing Programme.

Kate Cunningham, Partner at Gowling WLG said: "The impact of climate change on our day to day lives is becoming clearer and clearer. Disrupted transport networks personally affect our day to day lives, as well as the wider economy. This report is a call to action for policymakers, industry and communities to think and act proactively to ensure our transport networks are resilient in an uncertain future. At Gowling WLG we work in transport, technology and the built environment, as well as being recognised in the Legal 500 UK Green Guide on advising on issues around climate change, governance and sustainability. It is immensely rewarding to be involved in the discussions and production of the report which highlights that positive changes can be achieved with collaboration, shared data and a future thinking mindset."

Transport resilience in a changing climate challenges policymakers, industry leaders, and communities to shift mindsets and reframe resilience as an economic opportunity – one that creates jobs, safeguards livelihoods, and ensures reliable transport for future generations.