Climate change and extreme weather conditions could test the future resilience of the UK's infrastructure, according to a new report by the National Infrastructure Commission.
Based on evidence undertaken before the Covid-19 pandemic, the report warns that proactive steps are needed to ensure Britain's energy, water, digital, road and rail infrastructure can 'resist, absorb and recover' from major incidents.
The Commission calls on the Government to set clear resilience standards for infrastructure operators and introduce stress tests overseen by regulators.
The report also includes a new framework to improve resilience, setting out six key aspects of resilience: anticipate, resist, absorb, recover, adapt and transform.
Sir John Armitt, chair of the Commission, said: 'To safeguard the systems our communities rely on, everyone involved in running infrastructure needs to anticipate and prepare for potential future challenges.
'The framework proposed in our report offers the tools to face uncomfortable truths, value resilience properly, test for vulnerabilities and drive adaptation before it is too late.'
