Making plans for 2020 — Don’t ignore this

Peter du ToitI'm the founder of FutureWork IQ where I spend my time assisting businesses to improve their climate literacy so as to understand the projected impacts from the expanding climate crisis and how to adapt their workplaces in the face of these impacts.

Evidence of a heating planet are everywhere. We have just experienced the second warmest September on record (pictured) and every indication is that this will get a lot worse.

In view of this, it would be highly irresponsible not to consider the impacts of this on your business (or career)

In the US, all major Federal agencies had to submit their adaptation and resilience plans in the face of the climate emergency. You can find these plans here

Take a look at the potential risks to transportation:

More frequent/severe flooding of underground tunnels and low-lying infrastructure, requiring drainage and pumping, due to more intense precipitation, sea level rise, and storm surge.

Increased numbers and magnitude of storm surges and/or relative sea level rise potentially shorten infrastructure life.

Increased thermal expansion of paved surfaces, potentially causing degradation and reduced service life, due to higher temperatures and increased duration of heat waves.

Higher maintenance/construction costs for roads and bridges, due to increased temperatures, or exposure to storm surge.

Asphalt degradation and shorter replacement cycles; leading to limited access, congestion, and higher costs, due to higher temperatures.

Culvert and drainage infrastructure damage, due to changes in precipitation intensity, or snow melt timing.

Decreased driver/operator performance and decision-making skills, due to driver fatigue as a result of adverse weather.

Increased risk of vehicle crashes in severe weather.

System downtime, derailments, and slower travel times, due to rail buckling during
extremely hot days.

Increased temperatures limits aircraft performance leading to reduced payload or range capabilities.

Air traffic disruption due to severe weather and precipitation events that impact arrival and departure rates or require flight cancellations, sometimes for extended periods of time.

Reduced shipping access to docks and shore equipment and navigational aid damage.

Restricted access to local economies and public transportation.

Question: How reliant are you on mobility? Do you require your teams to commute to offices or to business meetings? If so, do you have firm plans in place to make that unnecessary?

It’s becoming clear that the most resilient businesses will be location independent with very little reliance on mobility to get work done.

How far down the building resilience path are you? Here are two things you should get done early in 2022:

Step 1: Ensure you have a well designed Digital HQ

Step 2: Ensure everyone on your team has the digital literacy skills to be an effective digital worker.