- Port of Baku and Bilbao Port Lead the Charge in Advancing Maritime Resilience
- Ports Under Threat from Climate Change: The Urgent Need for Resilience
- Resilience4Ports Initiative Sets Framework for Safer, Sustainable Ports of the Future
During Resilience Day at COP29, the Resilience4Ports initiative called on policymakers, businesses, financiers, industry associations, international organizations, and port operators to commit to adaptation and resilience goals as presented in the Sharm-El-Sheikh Adaptation Agenda and the UN Climate Change High-Level Champions’ Maritime Resilience Breakthroughs, reports LR Foundation.
A United Call to Action
The first sector-wide, action-driven commitment of Call to Action is to boost the resilience of ports’ infrastructure, operations, and activities in response to climate change. Industry partners are called to commit to four key actions:
- Understand and manage climate risks.
- Integrate climate resilience into business models and processes.
- Focus on community-centred business continuity.
- Knowledge and best practice sharing across the sector.
Rising Pressures and the Need for Resilience
Dr. Darshana Godaliyadde, Director of Resilience4Ports, highlighted the cumulative challenges faced by ports, including climate change, geopolitical instability, net-zero commitments, technological disruptions, and the urgent demand for social and environmental equity.
“To meet these challenges, port infrastructure must undergo massive transformations, particularly in emerging maritime economies and vulnerable regions like the Global South and Small Island Developing States (SIDS),” said Dr Godaliyadde.
Global Ports Take the Lead
Dr. Taleh Ziyadov, Director General of the Port of Baku, emphasised their commitment to the Resilience4Ports pledge in preparation for COP29 in Baku. Since 2016, the port has developed the Middle Corridor into a Green Corridor, enhancing resilience and fostering connectivity.
“We aim to implement innovative solutions to strengthen infrastructure, protect ecosystems, and advance resilient infrastructure, particularly in vulnerable regions,” stated Dr. Ziyadov.
Ricardo Barkala, President of Bilbao Port, highlighted the pivotal role ports play in the energy transition.“Ports are becoming hubs for alternative fuels, renewable energy, and net-zero industries such as green hydrogen and offshore wind. Biodiversity restoration and climate adaptation must become central to our long-term vision,” Barkala remarked.
Climate Risks to Global Ports
Ports, which facilitate over 80% of global trade, face growing threats from climate change. Rising sea levels, extreme temperatures, and severe weather events have already demonstrated their destructive potential. Examples include:
- Hurricane Katrina: Over $1.7 billion in damages to ports in Southern Louisiana.
- Typhoon Maemi: Left the Port of Busan, South Korea, inoperable for over 90 days.
Drive Sustainable Port Systems
Headed by the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure, and in partnership with Arup, UN Climate Change High-Level Champions and Lloyd’s Register Foundation, Resilience4Ports will help make port systems safer and more sustainable.
The initiative provides a framework for ports to adapt, withstand, and recover from disruptions by tracking progress against resilience metrics and holding industry leaders accountable for safety and sustainability.
The Pledge and Progress Report
The Resilience4Ports pledge was launched together with a progress report monitoring the adoption of sustainable infrastructure practices. This framework enables port actors to make informed decisions, thus better able to anticipate, withstand, and recover from challenges in securing vital supply chains and communities.
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Source: LR Foundation
