Civil Engineering Faces Climate Challenge

During the opening ceremony of the 33rd National Civil Engineering Congress 2025, organized by the Mexican College of Civil Engineers (CICM), Juan Carlos Fuentes, Deputy Minister of Infrastructure, emphasized that climate change demands new ways of building and designing sustainable, inclusive, and resilient projects. “Today, more than ever, civil engineering is called to play a decisive role. We live in times of great challenges and profound transformations. Climate change demands new ways of designing and building; technological innovation offers us tools that seemed unimaginable just a few years ago; and society demands safer, more sustainable, inclusive, and resilient infrastructure,” he stated.

Fuentes urged members of the college to maintain an open and consultative dialogue, constantly seeking new strategies and solutions that benefit all sectors of society. “I reiterate SICT’s commitment and willingness to work closely with you for the benefit of all Mexicans. We want Mexican engineering to remain a source of pride, a model of quality, and a symbol of progress. It is time to work together,” he said.

According to the Mexican Chamber of the Construction Industry (CMIC), climate change currently has a major influence on the pace, cost, and planning of projects. The organization noted that extreme weather events, such as atypical rainfall, prolonged heat waves, and water scarcity, are becoming increasingly frequent and directly impact construction timelines and project budgets.

Additionally, these climate variations also affect labor, causing health problems among workers, modifications to work schedules, and increases in construction costs. In some cases, climate impacts lead to hidden structural issues that are not immediately visible, such as cold joints in concrete poured during rainfall or under sudden temperature changes, potentially causing long-term damage to infrastructure.

According to CMIC, 45% of projects worldwide experience delays due to adverse weather conditions. In the United States, for instance, annual losses in construction and agriculture reach up to MX$100 billion (US$5.4 billion) because of heat waves, according to TIME Magazine. CMIC stated that to prevent these impacts, it is necessary to adopt sustainable practices. While these involve an initial investment increase of between 5% and 15% compared to conventional costs, that difference can be recovered in less than five years through operational savings.

In this regard, the organization is promoting several proposals to make the industry more resilient. These include reallocating federal budget resources toward disaster prevention, promoting sustainable materials, ensuring environmental compliance in construction projects, and integrating cutting-edge technologies.

The goal is to strengthen comprehensive risk management in infrastructure and mobility, anticipating and responding to the effects of climate change. Moreover, MSMEs that adopt environmental criteria can access economic, fiscal, and financial incentives, highlighted Roberto Calvet Roquero, National Coordinator of Social Responsibility, CMIC.

Advances in Sustainable Construction Across the Region

To strengthen the resilience of its infrastructure against the effects of climate change, the Government of Costa Rica is developing a Climate Adaptation Building Code.

As the implementing agency, UN-Habitat will oversee the management, supervision, and execution of the project’s activities. These include an analysis of the legal and regulatory framework, assessments of infrastructure climate risk and vulnerability, workshops and training programs on adaptation and mitigation, evaluations of climate-resilient construction technologies and practices, studies on climate finance mechanisms, and the drafting of the building code and its implementation guidelines.

Through this initiative, Costa Rica is preparing to ensure that future projects in housing, water, sanitation, and transportation meet climate resilience standards, advancing toward safer and more sustainable development. The country will be the first in the region to establish a building code focused on climate adaptation, demonstrating its innovative commitment to climate resilience.

“This project represents a collective commitment to protect our communities, strengthen infrastructure, and promote sustainable and inclusive urban development aimed at a more resilient future for Costa Rica. Within the framework of our 2026–2029 Strategic Plan, UN-Habitat will continue advancing initiatives to reduce climate vulnerability, ensure adequate housing, and foster resilient infrastructure,” stated Daniela Chong, Urban Projects Specialist, UN-Habitat.