July ends 13-month streak of global heat records as El Nino ebbs, but experts warn against relief (AP News)
Heat Waves and Droughts Are a Bonanza for Junk Food Companies (NY Times)
Tropical Storm Debby Highlights the Southeast’s Climate Vulnerabilities (NY Times)
More than 70% of the global workforce is at risk from severe heat – report (World Economic Forum)
Explainer-How climate change is fueling hurricanes (WTAQ)
Climate change fueled record early fires in Brazil’s wetlands, study says (Reuters)
‘I feel like there is no help’: Year-round energy poverty for millions of Europeans as heatwaves hit (Euro News)
World Energy Council Urges Change To Energy Transition Approach (Forbes)
‘Massive disinformation campaign’ is slowing global transition to green energy (The Guardian)
World Energy Council Urges Change To Energy Transition Approach (Forbes)
Wavering On Sustainability Risks Slowing Decarbonization Progress (Aviation Week)
Is Amazon’s Carbon Goal Enough to Offset Its Financial Hiccups? (Carbon Credits)
In major shift, China moves toward hard carbon targets (EE News)
From trade-offs to payoffs: CEOs on creating value with climate action (PWC)
Most business actions related to climate change are linked with higher profit margins and revenue growth
Which States Will Catch The Wave Of The Energy Transition? (Forbes)
New Financial Analysis Finds Significant Economic Benefits from Clean Energy Transition (Morningstar)
Five trends in India’s energy transition in 2024 (S&P Global)
Ports are susceptible to natural and human-caused disruptions, which can halt operations. For ports, resilience means reducing disruption risks, quickly recovering, and adapting to maintain and improve operations. It involves engineering resilience, which focuses on returning to equilibrium after a shock; ecological resilience, which considers how much disturbance a system can absorb before shifting to a new state; and adaptive resilience, which emphasizes the system’s capacity to reorganize and minimize the impact of shocks.
Since 1900, global mean sea levels have risen by 21 cm, with an accelerated increase documented by NASA at 103.8 mm since 1993—an unprecedented event in 2,500 years. Projections for sea level rise vary with greenhouse gas emissions, with intermediate estimates predicting up to 1.02 meters by 2100 compared to the 1995-2014 average. Although unlikely, the rapid disintegration of polar ice caps could result in a rise of up to 5 meters by 2150. Notably, forecasts have consistently been revised upward in recent decades.
A University of Oxford study found that nearly 90% of global ports are exposed to multiple climate and geophysical hazards, such as cyclones and earthquakes, with $7.5 billion in port-specific risk and $63.1 billion in trade at risk annually. The study emphasizes the urgent need for ports to adapt to climate impacts, particularly in hotspots like Japan, the US West Coast, and China.
Port disruptions can arise from various sources, both internal (like equipment failure) and external (such as natural disasters). Predictable disruptions can be assessed, while random and unexpected disruptions, like Black Swan events, aremore challengingr to anticipate. The COVID-19 pandemic exemplifies a Black Swan event with wide-ranging impacts on ports. Port resilience depends on infrastructure and design, with the ability to handle disruptions varying based on the port’s role in maritime networks, whether as a hub or a gateway. The nature of disruption—disruptive or damaging—determines recovery efforts.
Natural Disruptions
Ports face several natural disruptions, including extreme weather, geophysical events like earthquakes, and long-term climate change impacts. Extreme weather, such as hurricanes, can temporarily shut down ports, while earthquakes can cause significant damage to infrastructure. Climate change introduces additional risks, such as rising sea levels and fluctuating water levels in critical waterways, which can disrupt port operations and hinterland connectivity. Ports must adapt to these challenges to maintain resilience and ensure continued functionality.
Anthropogenic disruptions
Ports are vulnerable to anthropogenic disruptions, including accidents, labor disputes, economic and geopolitical events, IT failures, and pandemics. Accidents can cause temporary disruptions, while labor disputes can halt operations and damage reputations. Economic downturns and geopolitical conflicts can severely impact port activity and infrastructure. Information technology failures and cyberattacks present emerging risks, and pandemics like COVID-19 have shown the far-reaching impact of global health crises on port operations. Effective risk management and resilience strategies are crucial to mitigate these disruptions.
Building port resilience has become increasingly critical in the face of various challenges, but Port authorities play a crucial role in mitigating risks and enhancing ports’ resilience.
Here are some key strategies that ports can adopt to enhance their resilience:
Infrastructure and Superstructure Improvements: With rising sea levels and more frequent extreme weather events, ports must invest in infrastructure that can withstand these changes. For example, ports like Antwerp-Bruges are upgrading quay walls and implementing water management strategies to prepare for high and low water scenarios. Addressing climate risks also involves collaboration with local governments and other stakeholders to develop comprehensive coastal protection strategies.
Digitalization and Connectivity Upgrades: Ports are encouraged to adopt advanced digital technologies to streamline operations and enhance efficiency. Investments in green infrastructure and connectivity with inland transportation networks can also mitigate disruptions and ensure smooth operations. Satellite facilities and investments in cybersecurity are essential for maintaining safety. Proper handling of hazardous materials and relocating terminals to safer areas are additional strategies to ensure ports remain operational during disruptions.
Traffic Diversion Plans: Traffic diversion strategies involve rerouting operations when parts of a port, like terminals or access corridors, are closed due to disruptions. This can include using different terminals, alternative transport modes, or corridors. Complete traffic diversion to other ports may be necessary in severe cases, as seen after the 1995 Kobe earthquake or the Tianjin and Beirut explosions. Cruise lines also adjust port calls during hurricanes, occasionally changing home ports to maintain operations.
Risk Management Frameworks: Implementing robust risk management frameworks is crucial. This includes identifying potential hazards, assessing vulnerabilities, and developing both preventive and responsive measures to minimize the impact of disruptions. A structured approach helps in prioritizing and deploying these measures effectively, ensuring that ports can recover swiftly from any adverse events.
Collaborative Efforts: The need for collaboration across different stakeholders is vital. Engaging with shipping lines, regulatory agencies, and other entities can improve communication and coordination during disruptions, reducing downtime and ensuring continuity in port operations.
These strategies are not only about preparing for current challenges but also about building a framework that allows ports to adapt to future risks, thus securing their role in global trade and supply chains.
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Beatriz Canamary is a consultant in Sustainable and Resilient Business, Doctor and Professor in Business, Civil Engineer, specialized in Mergers and Acquisitions from the Harvard Business School, and mom of triplets. Today she is dedicated to the effective application of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in Multinationals.
She is an ESG enthusiast and makes it possible to carry out sustainable projects, such as energy transition and net-zero carbon emissions. She has +15 years of expertise in large infrastructure projects.
Member of the World Economic Forum, Academy of International Business and Academy of Economics and Finance.
