The grant of nearly SEK 4 million is part of Formas' call "Knowledge syntheses for climate transformation", which is funding 23 projects that will strengthen the knowledge base for climate transformation and support the development of effective measures and policies.
Pengxiang Zhao's project, "Transportation resilience in sparsely populated regions under extreme weather events: A systematic knowledge synthesis of vulnerability, accessibility, and adaptation strategies", will synthesise existing research to support climate adaptation and strengthen transport resilience in sparsely populated regions in Sweden.
We asked Pengxiang a few questions about the project and what the funding means.
Could you tell us about your project and what it aims to achieve?
"Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of extreme weather, creating growing challenges for transport infrastructure. This is especially critical in sparsely populated regions, where communities often depend on a single road or transport corridor to access healthcare, work and other essential services.
Our project will review international research on how flooding, torrential rain and temperature extremes affect transport infrastructure and accessibility in remote regions. We will also identify vulnerable communities and effective adaptation strategies, with the aim of supporting climate adaptation and improving safety and accessibility in sparsely populated parts of Sweden."
What does receiving this funding mean for you and your research?
"Receiving funding from Formas is a great honour and an important recognition of the societal relevance of my research. It allows us to carry out a rigorous knowledge review and strengthen collaboration with researchers, transport authorities, municipalities and emergency management organisations. I am very grateful to Formas and Lund University for their support."
What are the next steps in the project, and what do you hope to discover or accomplish?
"The first step is to develop a detailed review protocol and systematically collect and evaluate the available evidence. We hope to provide clear, evidence-based recommendations that can help authorities strengthen transport resilience in sparsely populated regions of Sweden, while also identifying knowledge gaps for future research."
Congratulations to Pengxiang Zhao and everyone working on this project!
Read more about the project at veteskapsrådets website - vr.se.