Press release
Scottish infrastructure struggling to weather the storm of climate change
Scottish infrastructure will have to adapt if the country is to cope with extreme weather prompted by climate change, a University of Dundee expert has said.
Published on 28 September 2026
Dr Alexandra Morel, an expert in ecosystem science at the University’s Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, has echoed warnings that dramatic changes to our built environment are required if the country is to continue experiencing increasingly hot and stormy weather.
She is one of several experts who will be attending a panel discussion as part of Scottish Climate Week this week. Hosted jointly by the University of Dundee and Abertay University, the event will include a screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing, a series of nine lectures delivered by scientific experts on the urgency of the climate and nature crisis.
It follows a summer of extreme heat, which saw key parts of Scotland’s transport networks pushed to the limit. The impact of the temperatures on steel rails prompted warnings to be issued of potential disruption to train services, while one local authority spread sand on its roads in an effort to reflect the heat.
“The recent heatwaves we have seen here have been deeply worrying,” said Dr Morel.
“Our built environment is not suited for these changing conditions. There is clearly a need for our infrastructure to be adapted – and quickly. For example, here in Dundee we have an aging sewage system which is easily overwhelmed when we have a sudden downpour of several centimetres of rain in less than an hour. Weather events like these are not regular but reflect our changing climate.”
Dr Morel’s work has taken her around the world, where she has witnessed first-hand evidence of accelerated climate change. This includes El Nino events, the impacts of which are expected to be particularly prevalent this coming winter.
“It is becoming increasingly obvious how climate change is affecting our forests and farming systems. In some of the agroforestry systems I have worked in, like Ethiopian coffee, a slight shift in when it rains can have a huge impact on the final yields.
“What has been really worrying for climate scientists is that climate change seems to be accelerating and impacts are arriving sooner than predicted. The importance of this, and what it means for people, cannot be underestimated. That is why events like Scottish Climate Week are so important in highlighting this message.”
The People's Emergency Briefing and Panel Discussion takes place on Thursday 1 October at the Events Space, Abertay University, from 18:00-20:00. Tickets are available via Eventbrite.