Strategic action for Port Adaptation to Climate Change
Ports are among the most critical infrastructures for global supply chains, crucial for trade, transport, and development. However, due to their location in the coastal zone (low-lying coastal and/or deltaic areas), they are particularly exposed to the impacts of Climate Change (CC). As port infrastructure was designed for a different climate regime it is considered urgent to review established practices in a timely manner, a challenge that will determine the future vulnerability of ports and which only few port authorities have started to address so far.
The aim of #AdaptPorts is to develop an Action Plan for integrating adaptive policies in ports by introducing innovative tools for prioritizing adaptation measures. By investigating primary data from 5 study ports (case studies) and applying machine learning methods to ta pilot case port, #AdaptPorts constitutes an innovative project that examines the adaptability of ports to CC and develops modern tools to assess climate change impacts, both physical and economic. The project is closely aligned with policies of international organizations (IPCC_UNEP, IMO, ESPO), European Directives concerning the marine environment and ports, the Integrated Maritime Policy, the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, the Blue Growth Initiative/Economy, as well as the EU strategies for a climate neutral and Green EU. Additionally, the project considers the challenge for increased investment in ports, working together to enhance the preparedness and resilience of their infrastructure.
- The provision of a complete methodological framework for the assessment of the risk of Greek ports to the already manifested expressions of Climate Change and the potential impacts based on future projections (extreme weather events, sea level rise) under different scenarios of future emissions (IPCC, 2021) by analyzing available climatic and oceanographic data.
- The development of a methodology to generate climate data knowledge through the combined use of machine learning and local scale in situ data collected from a pilot area.
- The assessment of economic impacts (port services and transport chain disruptions/delays, depreciation of logistical infrastructure, etc.) in different Climate Change adaptation scenarios.
- To identify the economic and environmental benefits of enhancing resilience in the context of sustainable development and blue economy.
- Understanding end-users’ and stakeholders’ perception and enhancing their receptiveness of adaptation as a high priority solution.
- Broad awareness of local communities.
Funding Amount: 197.000€
Funding: Green Fund, Priority Axis 3 “RESEARCH AND APPLICATION” “PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT & INNOVATIVE ACTIONS 2022”
Recipient: Department of Ports Management and Shipping, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens
Scientific Supervisor: Katerina Karditsa, Assistant Professor
Strategic action for Port Adaptation to Climate Change
