Port infrastructure is designed for a lifetime of many decades and may be operational in a future climate that will be significantly different to the historical climate used for planning and design.
Ports are highly vulnerable to climate-related impacts. Their location in often dynamic coastal environments places them at risk from storm surges, extreme waves, high winds and extreme rainfall.
A close dialogue is needed between climate scientists and the port industry to translate awareness of climate risks into practical actions to reduce those risks.
This policy brief focuses on port infrastructure in sub-Saharan Africa. It investigates the climate change risks, the use of climate services in decision-making and makes recommendations for actions to enhance the resilience of port infrastructure. It summarises a more comprehensive paper2 prepared to support the scoping phase of the Future Climate for Africa (FCFA) programme for the ports sector.
