Architects and engineers are no strangers to the challenges of designing structures that withstand the test of time and the whims of nature. However, the rapidly changing climate landscape, and associated risks and costs, presents a new frontier for professional practice. It begs the question: how is the standard of care adapting in response to the evolving risks posed by climate change?
The core of the professional duty has always been to act reasonably and design projects that prioritize the safety and well-being of occupants and the public. This responsibility has historically included considerations for weather–designing with the foresight of environmental conditions and natural events typical for a given location. But, in an era of climate change, the predictability of these weather events is becoming increasingly blurred. The boundaries of what’s considered “foreseeable” are expanding, raising crucial questions about liability and due diligence.
The above dilemma is not unique. A striking parallel can be drawn with the medical profession, particularly in its response to emerging diseases and pandemics. Take, for example, the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the 1980s and the recent COVID-19 pandemic. Both instances required a significant shift in medical practices and standards of care, adapting to new risks and information. Before HIV/AIDS, certain precautions against blood-borne pathogens were not standard; post-HIV/AIDS, new precautions became integral to medical practice. Similarly, COVID-19 brought unprecedented changes to patient management and infection control. In both scenarios, the medical community had to quickly integrate new knowledge and adapt its practices to maintain their standard of care.
So, what can architects and engineers learn from the above examples? The answer lies in recognizing that the standard of care must evolve in tandem with an understanding of climate change. It’s not merely about the debate on whether to explicitly include future climate data in design considerations, but about understanding that the changing climate is implicitly reshaping what constitutes reasonable foresight in design. It’s about proactively incorporating climate resilience into projects (or, at the very least, raising the potential need with clients during early contract negotiations so they can consider the costs of additional investment), not as an afterthought, but as a fundamental aspect of the professional duty of care. Just as the medical field adapted to new diseases, design and construction professionals must adapt to this new environmental reality, ensuring designs not only stand up to today's challenges, but are resilient in the face of tomorrow’s uncertainties.