Top Posts
Report: Nigeria, others may lose $300 billion, 49m...
Pope Leo hits out at climate change critics
Nigeria insurers prepare to global delegates on climate...
Energy Dept. asks employees not to use words...
Protesters seek $5tr payment from fossil fuel companies
Borno govt, NGOs demand funding on climate change...
Lagos rolls two-year flood plan to integrate lakes,...
UN official says climate change displaces up to...
UN ends high-level week with calls for peace,...
Ahead of COP30 conference, new national climate plans...
EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World
World

Research shows 90% of major ports vulnerable to climate hazards

by Matthew Eloyi January 17, 2023
written by Matthew Eloyi January 17, 2023
561

New research from the Environmental Change Institute (ECI) at the University of Oxford, has found that nearly nine out of ten major ports worldwide are vulnerable to harmful climate hazards.

According to the study, ports will have to adapt to rising sea levels and more intense storms due to climate change because they are situated in hazard-prone places along the coast and next to rivers that are vulnerable to storms and floods, and this might disrupt port operations and physically harm port infrastructure, with far-reaching effects.

The study presents a detailed picture of climate hazards for 1,340 of the most major ports globally. The most comprehensive data on natural disasters, such as earthquakes, cyclones, and flooding, as well as regional data on “marine extremes,” are combined with a new geospatial database of port infrastructure assets.

Read also: Study shows banks still investing heavily in fossil fuels despite net zero pledges

Research lead Jasper Verschuur said “We found 86% of all ports are exposed to more than three types of climatic and geophysical hazards. Extreme conditions at sea (e.g. storms) are expected to cause operational disruptions to around 40% of ports globally. What’s more, ports are exposed to other hazards including river flooding and earthquakes so port designers and operators have to take multiple hazards into consideration.

“That’s not always happening at the moment. For instance, the foundations of quay walls need careful consideration when exposed to earthquakes, the orientation and design of breakwaters when exposed to extreme waves and surges, and the drainage system when exposed to fluvial and pluvial flooding. If that doesn’t happen, we could see major disruptions to global trade and supply chains.”

According to the report, large ports in Asia, the Gulf of Mexico, and Western Europe suffer the greatest climatic hazards, but the repercussions might be greatest in the ports of middle-income countries even while the absolute danger is particularly high in high-income countries.

The study further estimates that the annual cost of the climate risk is $7.6 billion, the majority of which is caused by tropical storms and river floods of ports. This figure shows that even though ports only cover relatively small areas, the high value and density of assets can contribute to climate risk on a national and global scale. It is more than half as large as an earlier estimate of the climate risk of road and rail infrastructure on a global scale.

Story was adapted from Ships & Ports.

Climate changeHazardPortsStudyVulnerability
0 comment 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
admineconai

previous post
Study shows banks still investing heavily in fossil fuels despite net zero pledges
next post
Davos 2023: Idris Elba calls for investment to help world’s poor

Related Posts

Pope Leo hits out at climate change critics

October 3, 2025

Protesters seek $5tr payment from fossil fuel companies

October 1, 2025

UN official says climate change displaces up to...

September 30, 2025

UN ends high-level week with calls for peace,...

September 30, 2025

China announces plans to cut greenhouse gas emissions...

September 25, 2025

China locks down as Super Typhoon Ragasa nears...

September 24, 2025

Trump says climate change ‘greatest con Job in...

September 24, 2025

PERILS sets final industry loss estimate for 2024...

September 22, 2025

Guterres says 1.5C climate warming goal could fail

September 22, 2025

Australia sets 62-70% GHG emission reduction target by...

September 22, 2025

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Newsletter

Subscribe my Newsletter for new blog posts, tips & new photos. Let's stay updated!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin
  • Bloglovin
  • Vimeo

@2021 - All Right Reserved. Designed and Developed by Eco-Nai+

EcoNai Newsroom
  • Newsround
  • Nigeria
  • Africa
  • World