Assessing the cascading impacts of natural hazards on Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) using Scotland as a case study

YoungHwa Cha; Christopher J. White; Paula L. M. Gonzalez; Emily Wallace; David Harkin; Lou Brett; Kanzis Mattu; R. Sean Smith; Craig Thom; Medlyn D. Alix; Caroline Olbert; Laura Burnett; Elizabeth Hampton; Andrew Sheppard; Alexandra Campbell; Gareth Rees; Rachael Steller

doi:10.1038/s44304-025-00161-9

Assessing the cascading impacts of natural hazards on Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) using Scotland as a case study

YoungHwa Cha
, Christopher J. White^*
, Paula L. M. Gonzalez
, Emily Wallace
, David Harkin
, Lou Brett
, Kanzis Mattu
, R. Sean Smith
, Craig Thom
, Medlyn D. Alix
, Caroline Olbert
, Laura Burnett
, Elizabeth Hampton
, Andrew Sheppard
, Alexandra Campbell
, Gareth Rees
, Rachael Steller

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

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Abstract

This paper explores the cross-sectoral cascading impacts of extreme weather events on Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) to evidence the interconnected vulnerabilities across energy, water, transport and telecommunications. Using Storm Éowyn from 2025, cross-sectoral disruptions and impacts to Scotland’s CNI are explored through a co-designed workshop and survey. The study identifies key dependencies on electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, providing vital evidence to inform future preparedness and investment strategies for climate-resilient CNI.

Original language	English
Article number	108
Journal	npj Natural Hazards
Volume	2
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00161-9
Publication status	Published - 26 Dec 2025

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SDG 13 Climate Action

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Cha, Y., White, C. J., Gonzalez, P. L. M., Wallace, E., Harkin, D., Brett, L., Mattu, K., Smith, R. S., Thom, C., Alix, M. D., Olbert, C., Burnett, L., Hampton, E., Sheppard, A., Campbell, A., Rees, G., & Steller, R. (2025). Assessing the cascading impacts of natural hazards on Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) using Scotland as a case study. npj Natural Hazards, 2(1), Article 108. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00161-9

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abstract = "This paper explores the cross-sectoral cascading impacts of extreme weather events on Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) to evidence the interconnected vulnerabilities across energy, water, transport and telecommunications. Using Storm {\'E}owyn from 2025, cross-sectoral disruptions and impacts to Scotland{\textquoteright}s CNI are explored through a co-designed workshop and survey. The study identifies key dependencies on electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, providing vital evidence to inform future preparedness and investment strategies for climate-resilient CNI.",

author = "YoungHwa Cha and White, \{Christopher J.\} and Gonzalez, \{Paula L. M.\} and Emily Wallace and David Harkin and Lou Brett and Kanzis Mattu and Smith, \{R. Sean\} and Craig Thom and Alix, \{Medlyn D.\} and Caroline Olbert and Laura Burnett and Elizabeth Hampton and Andrew Sheppard and Alexandra Campbell and Gareth Rees and Rachael Steller",

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Cha, Y, White, CJ, Gonzalez, PLM, Wallace, E, Harkin, D, Brett, L, Mattu, K, Smith, RS, Thom, C, Alix, MD, Olbert, C, Burnett, L, Hampton, E, Sheppard, A, Campbell, A, Rees, G & Steller, R 2025, 'Assessing the cascading impacts of natural hazards on Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) using Scotland as a case study', npj Natural Hazards, vol. 2, no. 1, 108. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44304-025-00161-9

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AU - Cha, YoungHwa

AU - White, Christopher J.

AU - Gonzalez, Paula L. M.

AU - Wallace, Emily

AU - Harkin, David

AU - Brett, Lou

AU - Mattu, Kanzis

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AU - Thom, Craig

AU - Alix, Medlyn D.

AU - Olbert, Caroline

AU - Burnett, Laura

AU - Hampton, Elizabeth

AU - Sheppard, Andrew

AU - Campbell, Alexandra

AU - Rees, Gareth

AU - Steller, Rachael

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AB - This paper explores the cross-sectoral cascading impacts of extreme weather events on Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) to evidence the interconnected vulnerabilities across energy, water, transport and telecommunications. Using Storm Éowyn from 2025, cross-sectoral disruptions and impacts to Scotland’s CNI are explored through a co-designed workshop and survey. The study identifies key dependencies on electricity and telecommunications infrastructure, providing vital evidence to inform future preparedness and investment strategies for climate-resilient CNI.

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Assessing the cascading impacts of natural hazards on Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) using Scotland as a case study

Abstract

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