Climate & Resilience Flashcards

Which of the following is an example of 'climate proofing' an infrastructure project as defined within Envision's Climate & Resilience framework?

Answer: Modifying design standards, materials, and siting to withstand projected future climate conditions

Climate proofing involves adjusting design elements to ensure the infrastructure will continue to perform safely under projected future climate conditions throughout its service life.

The Envision framework recognizes that nature-based solutions (NbS) can serve infrastructure functions. Which example best demonstrates an NbS contributing to flood resilience?

Answer: Restoring coastal wetlands to attenuate storm surge and reduce downstream flooding

Coastal wetland restoration is a nature-based solution that absorbs wave energy and reduces storm surge, providing flood protection while delivering ecological co-benefits.

Under Envision, what is the purpose of establishing a 'design life' and aligning it with climate projections?

Answer: To ensure that climate risks are assessed over the timeframe the infrastructure is intended to serve

Aligning climate projections with design life ensures that future hazard conditions expected during the infrastructure's operational period are considered in the design.

A transit agency designs a subway station with multiple independent power feeds, manual override capabilities, and elevated pump systems for flood control. This is an example of which resilience strategy?

Answer: Redundancy and robustness

Redundancy (multiple power feeds) and robustness (manual overrides and flood pumps) are resilience strategies that ensure continued function or rapid recovery under stress.

In the context of Envision's climate credits, what is a 'carbon budget' and how does it guide project decisions?

Answer: The total allowable emissions a project can produce while remaining aligned with climate targets, used to evaluate design options

A carbon budget sets the upper limit of cumulative emissions consistent with a climate target, guiding project teams to select lower-carbon design and material options.

Which of the following statements about climate change adaptation versus climate change mitigation is accurate in the Envision context?

Answer: Adaptation focuses on adjusting to climate impacts; mitigation focuses on reducing emissions that cause climate change

Mitigation reduces the causes of climate change (GHG emissions), while adaptation addresses the consequences by adjusting infrastructure and communities to anticipated climate impacts.

A project team includes Indigenous community members in a climate vulnerability assessment for a rural water system. This practice advances which Envision principle beyond technical resilience?

Answer: Integrating traditional ecological knowledge and ensuring equity in resilience planning

Engaging Indigenous communities integrates traditional ecological knowledge and advances environmental justice by ensuring that historically marginalized groups shape resilience decisions affecting them.