Resilient Systems and Climate Action

Discover the Resilient Systems and Climate Action group, where interdisciplinary research paves the way for sustainable solutions to address global challenges.

With an aging built environment and changing climate, we are at a critical juncture in history. To move forward, new approaches are needed to design the systems of the future, whilst recognising that current infrastructure has a long lifetime. These systems such as power, water and transportation cannot be considered in isolation and must serve the needs of communities. Our research into Resilient Systems delivers understanding of the overall system of systems spanning infrastructure, the environment, society, and technology. But what makes a system resilient? Resilience reflects "the intrinsic ability of a system to adjust its functioning prior to, during, or following changes and disturbances, so that it can sustain required operations under both expected and unexpected conditions" (Resilience Engineering in Practice, 2010). Our research into resilient systems reflects consideration of:

Interdependencies (eg geographical, functional, logical)
Transdisciplinary impact (social and natural environments as well as engineering)
Resource management
Impact on users and stakeholders

This informs policy, standards, and practice across sectors. Ensuring the resilience of these systems is fundamental if we are to reach a safe, secure, and sustainable future.

Climate change poses a real and undeniable threat to the future of civilisation and so we must learn to be sustainable. Recent extreme weather events around the globe underscore the need for Climate Action now. Effective action requires understanding of the challenges we face, models, tools, and strategies to address these challenges, and the will to act. Our research informs policy and practice around the world in how systems should adapt in response to our changing climate and the decisions necessary on our pathway to a sustainable future.