Key factors for introducing an improved climate adaptation for engineers and contractors working in multidisciplinary infrastructure projects

Abstract: Climate change poses a critical threat to future development and is a reality that affects our society, our way of thinking and acting. The international body has taken common position against climate change in the expression of, inter alia, the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Sustainable Development Agenda. Likewise, the Swedish Government’s is aiming for climate neutrality by 2045. This in parallel to the fact that public awareness and knowledge of sustainability grow, the pressure to deliver environmentally friendly, ethical, and economically profitable products increases. The increased pressure on organizations within both public and private sectors leave no opportunity to escape as everyone is required to assist against the common goals. For organizational survival, it is thus important to find new ways of tying societal improvement with business, calling for new forms of knowledge and competence. Infrastructure investments play a fundamental function to achieve sustainable development and empower communities as they enhance economic growth, reduces inequality and improve the quality of life. Simultaneously, the climate impact from construction, operation, and maintenance of infrastructure is significant. Knowledge, practical advice and guidance to cope with increased requirements for reducing greenhouse gas emissions are available. In addition, awareness of the need for systematic climate work has increased in line with the introduction of new requirements and guidelines. Nevertheless, the climate perspective is still not a natural part of the mindset and process and the level of achievement of climate-related goals can be considered too low This study aims at investigating how climate mitigation practices can be updated to truly facilitate and enable integration of a climate perspective into the work of designers and contactors working in multidisciplinary infrastructure projects. The study was conducted in the context of a large infrastructure project concerning the construction and expansion of a significant railway segment in Sweden. Among other things, the project include construction of a tunnel in a highly demanding environment involving major climate challenges and a number of aggravating factors. By studying practices, collaborations, and use of external expertise in parallel with how projects proceed and actors operate the study contributes with deeper understanding of existing challenges and key factors for improved integration. The study's analyzed results indicate a number of contributing factors that complicate integration of a climate perspective, among others lack of ownership and risk-taking of the process, lack of knowledge, time and feedback, structural barriers, skepticism, inadequate communication, etc. The conclusion provides four recommendations for further addressing the matter: new contract and procurement models, development of educational packages, review and develop the toolbox of designers and engineers, and evaluate existing practices.