Role of decision-makers towards climate change resilience of urban transport systems: a scoping review

Climate change-induced events are occurring with increasing frequency and causing substantial damage on urban areas. As critical infrastructure, urban transportation systems are particularly exposed to such disruptions. Therefore, enhancing their resilience requires the coordinated efforts of multiple stakeholders including engineers, urban planners, the private sector, and public agencies, who play key roles in allocating resources and defining actions throughout the several stages of urban planning. This study addresses a critical gap by examining the role of decision-makers in shaping adaptation strategies for urban transportation systems in response to climate change impacts. A scoping review was conducted in accordance with PRISMA guidelines covering 32 selected studies to assess how existing research has explored the involvement of these professionals in policy decision-making processes. The findings underscore a strong connection between extreme weather events driven by climate change and the vulnerabilities of transportation systems, leading to a growing research focus on enhancing system resilience. As a result, the concepts of resilience have gained prominence in transport studies, offering a robust theoretical base for emerging research. Nonetheless, the specific role of decision-makers in shaping transport-focused resilience policies remains underexplored, revealing a significant gap. Additional research is needed to address the limited coverage of different transport modes, the overlooked influence of governance and stakeholder perceptions, and the lack of multidisciplinary approaches to understanding decision-making processes.