Tuesday 8 July 2025
The distinction between climate change mitigation and adaptation is fundamental, yet both are essential areas of focus for the Institution of Civil Engineering’s (ICE) membership and infrastructure professionals worldwide.
Climate-related impacts
Whereas mitigation addresses the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions to prevent catastrophic climate change, adaptation ensures that infrastructure systems and assets are resilient to the increasing severity and frequency of climate-related impacts.
As climate change accelerates, engineers have an ever-growing responsibility to lead on both fronts. PAS 2080: Carbon Management in Buildings and Infrastructure is a key standard that supports the systematic management of whole-life carbon in the delivery and operation of infrastructure.
Sponsored by ICE – and originally published in 2016 before being revised in 2023 to include buildings – PAS 2080 promotes a culture of early intervention, collaboration, and data-driven decision-making across entire infrastructure project lifecycles.
Within its 2025 Plan, ICE has made the promotion of PAS 2080 a priority, recognising the scale of global influence to its 97,000-strong membership. ICE is not only promoting PAS 2080’s uptake across the sector but also leading by example through applying its principles internally.
A new Carbon Management Plan has been developed that combines the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (covering Scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions) with PAS 2080’s concepts of control and influence. This approach enables ICE to control emissions reduction across its own operations – including through a significant retrofitting programme of its historical headquarters at One Great George Street, London – while influencing the reduction of emissions across its members’ projects. In addition to this focus on decarbonisation, ICE is increasing its attention on the equally urgent issue of climate change adaptation.
The development of a new PAS on Climate Adaptation Pathways is under way. This will support infrastructure professionals in navigating uncertainty and planning for climate impacts over time.
Adaptation pathways
To give it its full title, PAS 3090: Adaptation to Climate Change – Adaptation Pathways for Infrastructure Systems will provide practical guidance on the development and application of adaptation pathways, helping users identify appropriate measures and transition points under evolving climate conditions. This work is designed to complement PAS 2080 and address the interlinked challenges of climate risk and sustainable infrastructure planning.
The upcoming UK Climate Change Committee Adaptation Report is expected to reinforce the critical role of the built environment in responding to climate impacts and will likely emphasise the need for forward-looking resilience strategies. PAS 3090 is being developed with this context in mind, offering a structured approach to long-term, flexible planning across infrastructure systems.
By advancing both mitigation and adaptation standards, the ICE aims to support civil engineers in addressing the climate emergency with the urgency and complexity it demands. From carbon reduction to climate resilience, these tools reflect ICE’s commitment to delivering infrastructure that is sustainable, future-focussed, and globally relevant.
Read ICE’s PAS 2080 Guidance Document here: PAS 2080.