New York State Climate Impacts Assessment Chapter 04: Buildings.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Urban Planning
• Climate Adaptation

Background:

• New York State possesses approximately 5.3 million buildings, all susceptible to climate change impacts.
• Building risks extend beyond structural damage, threatening human lives and community resilience.
• Understanding climate change effects on the built environment is crucial for adaptation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the multifaceted impacts of climate change on buildings in New York State.
• To identify specific building types and populations at heightened risk from climate-related events.
• To present actionable adaptation strategies for safeguarding current and future building stock.

Main Methods:

• Review of climate change projections and their effects on building performance.
• Vulnerability assessment of diverse building typologies across New York State.
• Analysis of demographic data to identify at-risk populations within vulnerable communities.

Main Results:

• All 5.3 million buildings in New York are vulnerable to various climate change impacts.
• Certain building types and demographic groups face disproportionately higher risks.
• Climate change poses significant threats to the integrity of the built environment and community well-being.

Conclusions:

• Proactive adaptation strategies are essential to mitigate climate change risks to New York's buildings.
• Protecting the building stock is vital for ensuring the safety of residents and community resilience.
• Integrated approaches considering building performance and social vulnerability are necessary for effective climate adaptation.