Climate change threatens energy assets

More than 70pc of installed capacity is sited in regions that will face extreme heat and more tropical cyclones in future

Changes to the earth’s climate pose significant risks to energy infrastructure, directly affecting fuel production and distribution assets, according to a report from UN agency the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). More than 70pc of installed power capacity in operation or under construction is sited in three regions—Eastern North America, Western and Central Europe, and East Asia—that will face both extreme heat and tropical cyclones in the future. This could have an adverse effect on renewable energy assets, such as wind and solar resources, while biomass and biofuel availability are also sensitive to changing climate. Water availability is a significant issue. In 2020, 87pc of glob