Climate change and transport infrastructure: are we travelling in the right direction?

In this paper, a framework for analysis of the impact of climate change on the main types of local transport infrastructure - namely, roads, railways and ports is applied. The framework assists in assessing whether the respective regulatory regimes are equipped with tools to effectively address the effects of climate change. In particular: 1. the main physical impacts of climate change on Australia's road, rail and port infrastructure are identified to ascertain the likely consequences of climate change for these types of infrastructure; 2. the entity/ies that will be required to take responsibility for addressing the effects of climate change are identified; 3. the types of powers and tools that these entities have at their disposal to combat climate change are outlined; and 4. the ways in which the regulatory environment within which transport infrastructure is owned, operated and managed might need to change to more fully accommodate the effects of climate change are identified.