Introduction

Climate resilience is becoming increasingly vital in facilities management as extreme weather events and environmental changes pose risks to infrastructure, operations, and tenant safety. This course focuses on the key aspects of building resilience against climate-related risks, such as flooding, heatwaves, hurricanes, and other climate phenomena. It equips Facilities Managers (FM) with the knowledge and tools to integrate climate resilience strategies into facility planning, design, operation, and maintenance. The course addresses both immediate adaptation actions and long-term resilience strategies to safeguard assets and ensure business continuity.

Course Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Understand the key principles of climate resilience and how they apply to facilities management.
• Assess the potential climate risks facing their facility and surrounding areas, and prioritize adaptation measures.
• Develop a comprehensive climate resilience plan tailored to the needs of their facilities.
• Integrate climate-resilient infrastructure into design, construction, and renovation projects.
• Leverage data-driven tools and climate models to forecast future risks and impacts.
• Align their resilience plans with relevant standards, including ISO 14001, LEED, and WELL Building Standard.
• Understand the financial, operational, and social implications of climate resilience planning.

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for:

• Facilities Managers and Building Managers responsible for planning and maintaining climate-resilient infrastructures.
• Sustainability Managers working on long-term climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
• Project Managers involved in the planning, design, or renovation of climate-resilient buildings and facilities.
• Risk Managers who need to assess and manage climate-related risks.
• Urban Planners and Engineers interested in incorporating climate resilience into the built environment.
• Operations Directors in charge of ensuring business continuity in the face of climate risks.

Day 1: Introduction to Climate Resilience and Its Importance for Facilities

• Understanding Climate Resilience
  • Definition and the importance of climate resilience for buildings and infrastructure.
  • How climate resilience intersects with sustainability, risk management, and business continuity.
  • Key principles and frameworks of climate resilience (e.g., IPCC guidelines, UNFCCC adaptation strategies).
• The Global Impact of Climate Change
  • Overview of climate change impacts on facilities: extreme weather events, rising sea levels, temperature shifts, and droughts.
  • Understanding the connection between climate change and facility operations, maintenance, and lifespan.
  • Case studies of climate-related facility damage and how resilience measures helped mitigate these impacts.
• Climate Resilience Challenges for Facilities
  • Identifying risks specific to facilities: structural integrity, utilities, energy supply, health and safety, and supply chain disruptions.
  • Discussion on climate zones and how facilities in different regions face unique challenges.

Day 2: Risk Assessment and Vulnerability Mapping

• Assessing Climate Risks and Vulnerabilities
  • Understanding how to conduct a climate risk assessment: identification, evaluation, and prioritization of risks.
  • Tools for vulnerability mapping: climate models, local hazard assessments, and risk mapping software.
  • Identifying facility vulnerabilities to different climate stressors (e.g., flooding, heatwaves, wildfires, storm surges).
• Stakeholder Engagement and Risk Communication
  • Involving internal and external stakeholders (e.g., tenants, local authorities, contractors) in risk assessments and planning.
  • Effective communication of climate risks to leadership and staff.
  • Risk communication tools: reports, dashboards, and interactive climate risk maps.
• Climate Risk Scenarios
  • Developing risk scenarios and models for future climate conditions.
  • Adapting risk assessment tools to focus on short-term and long-term climate risks.

Day 3: Developing a Climate Resilience Plan for Facilities

• Designing a Comprehensive Resilience Plan
  • Key components of a climate resilience plan: risk mitigation, adaptation strategies, and recovery measures.
  • Integrating resilience measures into facilities management practices (maintenance schedules, upgrades, energy efficiency).
  • Balancing proactive and reactive strategies to ensure facilities are prepared for immediate and future climate impacts.
• Building Climate-Resilient Infrastructure
  • Best practices for climate-resilient building design: flood-proofing, wind-resistant structures, and passive cooling systems.
  • Incorporating nature-based solutions (e.g., green roofs, permeable pavements, rain gardens).
  • Evaluating and improving the resilience of existing facilities through retrofits and upgrades.
• Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies
  • Developing adaptation strategies for facilities: improving energy efficiency, upgrading HVAC systems, and strengthening building envelopes.
  • Mitigation: reducing greenhouse gas emissions through energy-efficient technologies, renewable energy solutions, and low-carbon construction.

Day 4: Climate Resilience for Energy and Water Systems

• Energy Systems Resilience
  • Ensuring energy resilience: backup power solutions, on-site renewable energy generation, and energy storage systems.
  • Building energy systems that can withstand climate extremes: heating, cooling, and electricity distribution.
  • Energy-efficient practices that enhance resilience (e.g., energy audits, demand-response systems, LED lighting).
• Water Systems Resilience
  • Addressing the risks of water scarcity and flooding: water management systems, rainwater harvesting, and stormwater drainage.
  • Implementing water-efficient technologies to reduce dependency on external water sources.
  • Flood protection measures: barriers, flood-proofing utilities, and floodplain management strategies.
• Building Resilience into Sustainability Goals
  • Aligning climate resilience strategies with long-term sustainability goals, such as LEED, WELL, and ISO 14001 certifications.
  • Integrating climate resilience into corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies and broader sustainability policies.

Day 5: Implementation, Monitoring, and Reporting

• Action Plan Development
  • Creating an action plan for implementing climate resilience strategies in facilities.
  • Resource allocation and budgeting for climate resilience projects.
  • Assigning responsibilities for resilience planning and action within the FM team.
• Monitoring and Evaluating Resilience
  • Using tools and metrics to track the effectiveness of resilience measures.
  • Setting performance indicators (e.g., energy consumption, water usage, reduction in damage from extreme weather events).
  • Continuous monitoring through smart technologies, sensors, and IoT-enabled systems.
• Reporting and Documentation
  • How to report on climate resilience progress to stakeholders, leadership, and the public.
  • Developing resilience reports and case studies for transparency and accountability.
  • Engaging stakeholders in regular updates on facility climate resilience measures.

Course Methodology

• Expert-Led Presentations: Sessions led by climate resilience experts in facilities management.
• Interactive Workshops: Real-world problem-solving and development of climate resilience plans for various types of facilities.
• Case Studies: Examples of facilities that have successfully integrated climate resilience.
• Site Visits (Optional): Visits to facilities with climate-resilient infrastructure to observe best practices.
• Q&A and Discussions: Peer learning through group discussions and Q&A sessions.