Built Environment leArning for Climate adaptatiON

BEACON (Built Environment leArning for Climate adaptation) is a collaborative
research project co-funded by EU Erasmus+ programme. This three-year research
initiative aims to develop trans-disciplinary and innovative research-based learning in
the built environment to tackle climate change in coastal regions. The project
consortium consists of six partners from four Europe countries and one in Asian
country. BEACON project is led by the University of Huddersfield’s Global Disaster
Resilience Centre UK and the University of Malta is a key partner in the Project
through the Materials Engineering, Structural Monitoring and Sustainable
Construction Research Group.
The effects of the climate change will have devastating effects on the vulnerable
coastal built environment as it has the ability of inundating the existing built
environment due to direct threats to properties, infrastructures, coastal industries,
coastal and marine ecosystems. Furthermore, coastal areas are known to highly
populated due to urban centres being located near the coastal belts further increases
the predicament. In light of this there is a vital necessity to develop tangible climate
adaptation measures in the coastal built environments. However, there is a
significant knowledge gap in relation to effective responses and adaptation
measures to climate change impacts within the built environment as a whole as well
as the construction and property industries. In addressing this it is essential to
upgrade the knowledge and skills of the built environment professionals as they will
be lead roles in this climate change adaptation process. In light of this the project
aims to develop trans-disciplinary and innovative research-based learning in the built
environment to tackle climate change in coastal regions and the following objectives
have been set out.
 To identify climate change impact on the built environment in coastal regions
 To develop a coherent framework for integrating the requirements of the Paris
Agreement with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Sendai
Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015–2030 (SFDRR) in the context of
the impact of climate change on the built environment in coastal regions’
 To recognise the opportunities for climate adaptation in the coastal built
environment in line with the coherent framework
 To understand skills gaps in climate adaptation in the built environment to
tackle climate change in coastal regions.
 To develop a trans-disciplinary and innovative research-based learning to
improve competencies in climate change adaptation in the built environment
in coastal regions.
For information about BEACON contact the Principal Investigator of the project Prof.
Ruben Paul Borg