PIANC launches climate change adaptation guidance

09 January 2020

PIANC, the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure, launched its technical guidance on climate change adaptation planning.

Ports and waterways around the world are already experiencing air and water temperature increases, rising sea levels, and changes in parameters such as seasonal precipitation, wind and wave conditions. Many are also seeing more frequent and severe extreme events including storms, heatwaves and droughts.

Climate change represents a significant risk to business, operations, safety and infrastructure – and hence to local, national and global economies. Waterborne transport infrastructure will be adversely affected. Port and waterway operators need to take urgent action to strengthen resilience and adapt.

The guidance, which has been prepared by the international experts on PIANC’s Working Group 178, provides an introduction to the potential consequences of climate change and some of the challenges to be addressed if ports and waterways are to adapt effectively.

It then introduces a four-stage methodological framework to help port and waterway owners and operators plan to adapt infrastructure and improve resilience.  Sixteen international good practice case studies are appended to the guidance, along with various templates to be used for data collection and record keeping.

The guidance can be freely-downloaded at https://www.pianc.org/publications/envicom/wg178