Airports worldwide are already feeling the effects of climate extremes, and the risks are accelerating.
A new XDI analysis of more than 30 international airports across four continents found that climate-related disruption is already increasing and is on track to triple by 2050.
Using its market-leading asset-level analytics, XDI assessed exposure to nine major hazards — including flooding, coastal inundation, extreme heat and forest fire — and provided a spatial assessment of entire airport footprints to pinpoint where adaptation measures would be most effective.
The modelling applied three physical climate scenarios from the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (RCP2.6/SSP1-2.6, RCP4.5/SSP2-4.5 and RCP8.5/SSP5-8.5), combining Large Site Analysis for terminals, hangars and fuel depots with Linear Asset Analysis to assess risks along runways, access roads, taxiways and underground services.
The analysis found that 4% of airports already face significant operational risk exposure from climate hazards. If carbon pollution is not dramatically reduced, this will increase to 32% - 1 in 3 airports - by 2050.
