Climate change poses significant threats to U.S. infrastructure, impacting investors and emphasizing the need for resilience

From CNBC: 2025-07-01 12:24:00

U.S. infrastructure is facing climate change challenges, with airports flooding and bridges melting. Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport was shut down by historic rainfall in 2023. The American Society of Civil Engineers gave the nation a “C” grade, citing climate-related risks in all infrastructure categories.

Sectors like airports, power, and telecommunications are at major risk from floods, winds, and wildfires. First Street’s risk modeling found that 19% of power infrastructure, 17% of telecommunications, and 12% of airports face significant threats. Most infrastructure was built for a climate that no longer exists, impacting investors.

Investors are increasingly considering the climate impact on infrastructure investments. Sarah Kapnick, global head of climate advisory at JPMorgan Chase, emphasizes the importance of making infrastructure climate-resilient through science and engineering collaboration. However, climate science funding has seen cuts, impacting decision-making and data availability.

ASCE estimates a $3.7 trillion spending gap over the next 10 years to improve U.S. infrastructure. The Trump administration’s cuts include canceling the nearly $1 billion Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program aimed at reducing natural disaster damage. The need for climate-resilient infrastructure funding is urgent.



Read more at CNBC: Climate threat to U.S. infrastructure is accelerating