Rsl06 - Emergency plans and climate-related physical risk – Above Green

(6 credits; +2 if exemplary)

Aim

To encourage emergency plans that go beyond statutory requirements and aim to protect property and the environment in addition to people. To recognise and encourage assessment of an asset’s exposure to climate related physical risks and their impact on asset value.

Question

What is included within the scope of the Emergency plans?

Credits	Answer	Select answers that apply
0	A	Question not answered
2	B	The emergency plan includes protection of property
2	C	The emergency plan includes environmental impacts
Exemplary	D	The plans must detail how the asset provides a community space for emergencies and how this is coordinated with the community

Has the asset been assessed for climate-related physical risks?

Credits	Answer	Select single answer option
0	E	Question not answered
0	F	No
2	G	Yes
Exemplary	H	Yes, and the risks posed to the asset value and the community have been identified

Assessment criteria

Criterion	Assessment criteria	Applicable answer
1	The emergency plan includes a coherent emergency strategy for all relevant natural hazards, fire and security risks for the time period specified.	B-D
2	Responsibility for emergency plans have been delegated to relevant individuals within the organisation at the asset and communicated appropriately to building users.	B-D
3	The level of detail required will depend on the risks that the site is exposed to and the complexity of mitigating those risks.	B-D
4	Community spaces for emergencies will vary depending on the needs of the community surrounding the asset, the existing community spaces and the types of emergency that might occur. Examples of community spaces include: emergency shelters cooling centres for heat waves kitchen spaces meeting space	D
5	The assessment of climate related physical risks should cover both Acute and Chronic risks	G-H
6	The assessment was carried out by a competent person or organisation, preferably third-party to the asset owner or manager within the last five years.	G-H

Evidence

Criteria	Evidence requirement
-	The evidence below is not exhaustive, please also refer to the ‘BREEAM evidential requirements’ section in the scope of the Guidance for appropriate evidence types which can be used to demonstrate compliance.
1-3	A copy of risk assessment on which the emergency plan is based and a copy of the emergency plan with sections which relate to the protection of property and environmental impacts.
4	Evidence of coordination with civic or other community leaders to offer the community space, communications within the community about the space available and how it can be utilized in the case of an emergency.
5-6	The report detailing the climate related physical risks and opportunities identified, the methodology used for the assessment and the key metrics where applicable.
5-6	Evidence of the competency of the individual(s) or organisation that undertook the assessment.

Definitions

Competent individual:

An individual (or individuals) with relevant technical and professional experience suitable to:

Determine the potential for natural hazards in the region of the development
Determine the likely impacts on the site, building and locality
Subsequently identify appropriate mitigation measures This (or these) individual(s) should practice to and abide by a professional code of conduct or similar.

Natural hazards:

Natural processes or phenomena occurring in the biosphere or crust that may constitute a damaging event. The list below is not intended to be exhaustive but provides an indication of the type of hazards that should be considered to meet the definition. Other natural hazards may be relevant under this issue. Relevance will be dependent on local geography, geology, hydrology and climate factors and the Assessor should be satisfied that appropriate local expertise has been sought by the client to identify these fully:

Floods
Natural disasters of geological origin such as volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides, tsunamis and tidal waves
Natural disasters of climatic or meteorological origin such as droughts, avalanches, wave surges, and wind storms including cyclones, hurricanes, tornadoes, tropical storms, and typhoons
Wildfires

Climate-Related Physical Risks:

The physical risks of climate change are risks resulting from events, such as extreme weather (hurricanes, floods, extreme heat), as well as longer-term shifts in climate patterns. Physical risks from climate change can be either acute, such as increased severity of extreme weather events, or chronic such as sea level rise or chronic heat waves.

Additional information

Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD)

The Financial Stability Board Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) is a market-driven initiative that have developed and published a set of recommendations for voluntary and consistent climaterelated financial risk disclosures in mainstream filings. This guidance provides companies with guidance on what kind of information to provide to investors, lenders, insurers, and other stakeholders on climate-related risks Further information can be found at: https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/

The final recommendations of the Task Force can be found at:

https://www.fsb-tcfd.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/FINAL-TCFD-Report-062817.pdf