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Author: Marco Troncon, CEO, Aeroporti di Roma
Airports are increasingly exposed to the effects of climate change, which present significant risks for their operations, their safety, their economic sustainability and their long -term resilience. However, in these challenges, there are also opportunities. Aeroporti di Roma (ADR) undertakes to position itself at the forefront of climate -related initiatives in the airport sector, not only to manage risks but also to seize emerging opportunities.
As a complex infrastructure, airports are made up of many interdependent systems, each with different degrees of exposure and sensitivity to climate risks. Many major airports, including those managed by ADR, have been widened over the decades, and the age of certain infrastructure elements can have an impact on their ability to resist extreme weather events or long -term climate change. ADR fully recognizes that climate change causes multidimensional risks with clear economic consequences. These include higher operating costs, potential income reductions and reduced capacity to attract investments or access capital markets.
In addition, the planned intensification of climatic impacts may require additional insurance coverage for critical assets and significant investments to improve or reconstruct a vulnerable infrastructure. All these economic risks are deeply linked to the reputation of a company – an essential factor in maintaining the confidence of stakeholders and ensuring long -term financial viability. At the same time, ADR estimates that climate change can generate new paths for business development through innovation and lasting solutions in airport operations.
Climate risk navigation
In response to these challenges, the ADR has developed a complete methodology of risk analysis of climate change, which is not only aligned with international best practices such as the Directives of the OACI and the ISO 14091, but in many fields exceeds them. This methodology classifies climate risks in two general types: physical risks – those directly linked to climatic impacts such as storms, floods, heat waves and elevation of sea level – and transition risks, which arise from world change to a low -carbohydrate economy. The main objective of the ADR, for the moment, concerns physical risks.
ADR believes that climate change can generate new avenues for business development through innovation and sustainable solutions
The analysis process begins with in -depth screening for relevant climatic risks, using the classifications defined in EU taxonomy. This is followed by the identification of critical assets of the airport – such as tracks, traffic routes, après and drainage systems – and an assessment of their exposure, their sensitivity and their ability to adapt. A dynamic risks modeling phase then evaluates how these assets could be assigned in the various climatic scenarios and time horizons, taking into account the possible implementation of mitigation measures.
This detailed and data -focused approach allowed the ADR to identify the areas of possible future vulnerability, in particular in the SSP2-4.5 scenario – a projection “in the middle of the road” in which the global average temperature could increase by around 2.7 ° C at the end of the century. Based on this analysis, ADR built a solid base for planning and decision -making.
Build a climate adaptation plan
The results of the risk analysis of climate change guided the development of the ADR climate adaptation plan – a strategic and prospective framework designed to meet future challenges. The plan describes a series of targeted measures to reduce vulnerability and improve resilience in all areas of airport infrastructure. These interventions are aligned with wider environmental objectives and are designed to integrate as much as possible into emission reduction efforts.
In particular, the climate adaptation plan has produced a list of measures defined for the attenuation of the main physical risks linked to climate change for Fiucino and Ciampino airport. The list of measures can be summarized in the following categories: measures to integrate design requirements to take into account changing climatic phenomena, integration or extension of control models (thermal or energy) or surveillance, integration or extension of surveillance and maintenance plans and measures to increase the resilience of assets compared to climatic modifications.
By integrating these technically robust and prospective measures, ADR’s climate adaptation plan reflects a proactive and complete approach to climate resilience. It demonstrates the in -depth commitment of the company to sustainability, not only as a regulatory or reputation necessity, but as a strategic pillar for the future of airport operations. In doing so, the ADR aims to maintain the confidence of the stakeholders and to guarantee the long -term viability of the infrastructure under its direction.