Resilience logistical chains to climate change

Introduction

The resilience of logistical chains to climate change is relevant for ports to ensure continuity, safety and reliability of operations. Considerable adverse impacts of climate change include rising water levels and higher risk for flooding/marine submersion, extended and more severe low water periods on rivers and more frequent extreme weather situations with heatwaves and stronger storms. This factsheet should support ports and partners to address these vulnerabilities by suggesting adaptive measures to protect their port business and logistical chains.

Value proposition

Impacts of climate change can disrupt port operations for short or long periods
Floods, for example, can cause damage, whilst droughts can limit transport capacities.
Heatwaves can adversely impact port operations as workers may no longer be able to work outdoors
Resilience of logistical chains to climate change will contribute to maintaining global trade and economic wealth.

Port applicability

The resilience of logistical chains to climate change is relevant for all ports. However, climate risks differ between regions.

Groups of innovations

The resilience of logistical chains can be strengthened by various groups of proactive measures to better adapt to climate change:
Climate-resilient infrastructure is key to protect port operations, including various measures such as higher quay walls, flood barriers, retention areas and reinforcements. During heatwaves, outdoor workers can be protected by measures such as adapted work schedules, appropriate clothing and equipment and frequent rest breaks. Monitoring and risk management can be enhanced by using sensors, digital tools and artificial intelligence for better forecasts and preparations for extreme climate conditions.
Monitoring and risk management can be enhanced by using sensors, digital tools and artificial intelligence for better forecasts and preparations for extreme climate conditions.
To strengthen resilience, ports and partners in logistical chains should strengthen operational flexibility and develop redundant structures for terminal and transport networks. Measures include synchromodal transport planning (see MAGPIE 6.4), alternative routing and contingency planning. New barges adapted to low water conditions could reduce vulnerability of inland waterway networks to decreasing water levels.
Measures such as zero-emission operation, the reduction of the consumption of scarce resources and the protection of ecosystems contribute to a reduction of climate change risks for logistical chains.
his corresponds with the work towards energy resilience contributing to the resilience of logistical chains. Ports should work on Climate Adaptation Plans (as the one recently adopted by HAROPA) to develop appropriate resilience measures in the short, medium and long term.

Impact

Impact level per aspect
Impact	Level	Remark
Climate effects	Medium impact	The implementation of adaptive measures (see above) strengthens the reliability and performance of ports and logistical chains. Moreover, measures such as zero-emission operation are related to the reduction of adverse environmental impact of port operations and supply chains.
GHG emissions and air pollution	Limited impact	Reduction of emissions through resilience measures
Competitiveness	Medium impact	Stronger resilience strengthen ports’ competitive position.

Port characteristics

There are no specific requirements needed for ports. All ports face climate change and may take actions to strengthen the resilience of logistical chains, according to the specific climate risks in their region. Some measures might need a critical size of operations and transport volumes to make it feasible. For instance, the establishment of redundant structures in ports and hinterland networks may require extensive investment. The exposure to climate change and related risks of ports and transport chains may be different which determines the urgency of resilience measures.

Barriers and enablers

Enablers

InfrastructureEnabler
Monitoring and risk management enable the forecasting of climate change effects and prevention of climate impacted damages to infrastructure. High investment costs for climate-resilient infrastructure and redundant infrastructure systems are a barrier. Infrastructure managers should take the opportunity of upcoming infrastructure works to aim for measures to strengthen climate-resilience (e.g. raising quay walls), which reduces the likelihood of costly urgent action.
EconomicEnabler
Adaptive measures with respect to climate change vulnerabilities will enable ports to maintain operational. In some situations, investment may even be required for ports to ensure long-term viability (e.g. inland ports at rivers with permanent decrease of water levels). In the future, shippers might be willing to pay surcharges for resilient operation, which would strengthen initiatives to take adaptive measures for the resilience of logistical chains. The long-term perspective of climate change may be a barrier for investment decisions. Therefore, taking effective measures by ports may require public support such as subsidies. Moreover, regulative measures and incentives may increase the consideration of resilience to climate change by ports.
Stakeholder InteractionEnabler
The interaction of different stakeholders enables the implementation of resilience measures, as synergies with respect to the establishment of redundant resilient structures may be created by ports and partners in the logistical chains working together. For instance, risk management should be developed jointly by ports with industrial and logistics partners, as well as with public authorities.
Standards & regulationEnabler
Ports can promote resilience by integrating adaptation measures in concession agreements, infrastructure planning and operational standards. As ports are a key player in transport networks, they are enablers for setting standards for climate resilience of transport networks by addressing risks related to climate change in the transport sector. As regards logistical chains, the same holds for other infrastructure managers. Regulation with respect to provisions for the climate-resilience of infrastructures may strengthen activities.
TechnologyEnabler
In the ports and along logistical chains various technological drivers exist. Monitoring and risk management will be upgraded by digitalisation and the use of artificial intelligence. This will improve predictive analytics for the anticipation of climate change disruptions. Technologies will also enable more tailored adaptive measures to prepare infrastructures, vehicles and operation for climate change. For instance, barges are adapted to low-water levels along rivers which may become more frequent with the continuation of climate change in the long-term.

How to implement?

Step 1
Ciamte change risks and measures for resilience
Step 2
Planning and operational measures for resilience
Step 3
Small-scale infrastructure measures for resilience
Step 4
Large-scale infrastructure measures for resilience

Timeline

The arrow below represents the expected development of resilience logistical chains climate change.

What should a port do in the next 3 years?

Ports should analyse the impact of climate change and identify (critical) risks related to climate change. This should be the base for climate adaptation planning and the establishment of monitoring and risk management. Moreover, the port should start the work towards operational flexibility and redundant structures.

Investment overview

Investment for monitoring and risk management tooling depends on the spatial extension of ports. However, the individual items of equipment and tools might not require large investments. However, upgrades of infrastructure, equipment and transport assets require large investments. This may also hold for the establishment of redundant network capacities by creating additional capacity.

Stakeholder overview

Below is an overview of the required involved stakeholders. Key stakeholders are port authorities, infrastructure managers, operators, logistic service providers and cargo owners by identifying critical risks and taking the initiative to plan and implement measures to address these risks. Governments and authorities have an important role by stimulating activities by providing financial support and setting incentives through the regulative framework.

Blue stakeholders are essential, white stakeholders are enabling

Knowledge base

Poo, Yang, Dimitriu, and Qu, Review on seaport and airport adaptation to climate change: a case on sea level rise and flooding, 2018.
Mohsendokht, Kontovas, Chang, Qu, Li, and Yang, Resilience analysis of seaports: a critical review of development and research directions, MARITIME POLICY & MANAGEMENT 2026, VOL. 53, NO. 2, 227–262.
Becker, A., Ng,A., McEvoy, D., Mullett, J., (2018). "Implications of climate change for shipping: Ports and supply chains." Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change: e508.
Low water vessels: /factsheets/low-waster-vessels (opens in new tab)
Tool for modeling sustainable synchro-modal transport on hinterland connections
MAGPIE Green shipping corridor non-tech solution: /products/green-shipping-corridors (opens in new tab)