Climate change adaptation planning for ports and inland waterways
Ports and waterways around the world are experiencing air and water temperature increases, rising sea levels, and changes in seasonal precipitation, wind and wave conditions. Many are also seeing more frequent and severe extreme events such as storms, heatwaves and droughts. Climate change represents a significant risk to business, operations, safety and infrastructure – and hence to local, national and global economies. Waterborne transport infrastructure will be adversely affected. Port and waterway operators need to take urgent action to strengthen resilience and adapt. The guidance prepared by PIANC’s technical Working Group 178 provides a brief introduction to the potential consequences of climate change and some of the challenges to be addressed. It then introduces a four-stage methodological framework to help port and waterway operators plan how best to adapt.
