Climate change

Climate change

The situation calls for the reduction of gas emissions into the atmosphere. Climate adaptation programmes are underway around the world to prepare for the inevitable impacts of climate change. Both climate adaptation and the mitigation of climate change call for a holistic approach. This includes sectors such as infrastructure, energy, urban development, natural resources and traffic.

Ramboll is among the world’s leading consultants, offering planning and implementation services for climate adaptation and projects to analyse and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. We serve both the private and public sector, at the national, regional and local levels. We help our customers quantify the financial consequences of, and find alternative solutions for, problems related to climate change.

Climate strategy

Professional and lasting efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions require clear climate strategies. At Ramboll, we collaborate with our customers to produce holistic climate strategies that explore the most realistic and achievable possibilities. For our corporate customers, we make an overall assessment of their emissions, of their Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM), and of their carbon trading.

Potential areas of reduction

For energy-consuming companies, private as well as public, we carry out an overall assessment of potential areas for reducing the emission of greenhouse gasses. We propose solutions such as the use of renewable energy, efficient distribution systems and energy-reducing measures. We consider issues such as the operation of building-mass, transport and land use planning.

Climate calculator

We use the Ramboll climate calculator to calculate climate gas in general and CO2 reductions in particular. Adapting to each specific situation, the calculator is a useful tool to prepare climate strategies or assess specific reductive measures in different industries.

Climate and the energy sector

Considering the ways we produce, distribute and consume energy is the most important factor in the fight against climate change. We develop and streamline the production, distribution and use of energy in order to reduce emissions, improve our customers’ financial position and ensure a stable supply.

Our services include the planning, design and construction of plants for renewable energy sources like biomass, waste, geothermal, solar and wind. We are involved in CO2 storage projects. For existing energy plants and industrial facilities, we identify potential solutions to reduce CO2 and save energy, and we assess the technical, financial, organisational and hazardous aspects of these solutions.

Climate in urban and traffic planning

Today, most of the world's population lives in cities, where road traffic is increasing dramatically. Urban climate solutions are needed that combine sustainable urban planning with well-organised infrastructure. Ramboll takes a holistic approach to traffic planning, considering accessibility and local air pollution, including noise and CO2 emissions. Our plans include sustainable infrastructure, tax measures and the use of environmentally friendly and alternative fuel. We include public traffic and enhanced conditions for cyclists in our strategies to reduce the amount of CO2 emitted by traffic.
 
Building-mass densification in new urban areas and alternative strategies for land use in existing areas are often included in our measures to reduce the levels of CO2 emitted by transport.

Climate in urban planning for heating and cooling

When it comes to the supply planning for urban heating and cooling, district heating and cooling is the best way to reduce carbon emissions in many cities. Several cities are already carbon neutral for heating, and some for electricity too, due to their efficient use of renewable energy from combined heat and power (CHP) from waste and biomass. Building-mass densification in new urban areas is also a factor for developing cost-effective heating and cooling infrastructure.

Climate in the building sector

Buildings interact with other buildings, infrastructure, energy systems and so on. Our approach to sustainable construction throughout all stages of a building project – from planning, design and construction to the operational phase – are part of our approach to protecting our climate with renewable energy, district heating and cooling, and other solutions. We specialise in designing climate shields and other installations to minimise energy loss in public and commercial buildings as well as private housing.

Adapting to a changing climate

Global warming and the resultant melting of polar ice caps will lead to a general rise in sea level,  increasing the risk of flooding in low-lying, coastal areas. Heavier storms will further increase this risk, contributing to flooding from rivers and from urban drainage systems which lack drainage capacity. These challenges call for adaptation measures within river basins, water supply, waste water management, and agriculture, to name just a few.

We assist our clients in masterminding their planning according to the EU Flood Directive and in quantifying the risks and financial consequences of flooding. We offer innovative, cost-effective solutions for these and other problems related to climate change.

Ramboll has the expertise and a comprehensive package of hydraulic numerical models used in flood forecasting and in the assessment of consequences, such as MOUSE and MIKE Urban-calculations for our planning work, and MIKE FLOOD for modelling flooding.

Related services

• Climate - CO2 reduction
• Energy Efficienicy
• Energy Planning and Strategy
• Waste-to-energy
• Biomass and biogas
• Wind energy
• Other renewables
• District heating and cooling