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CLIMATE CHANGE: ITS IMPACT TO THE PORT 1

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What is Global Warming & Climate Change Global warming refers to rising global temperatures and it causes climates to change. The warming has resulted : Basically, global warming is the cause, climate change is the effect. 2 Increased global average surface air and ocean temperatures Increased weather extremes i.e. severe storms, typhoons and torrential rains Melting of ice in the polar region

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What is happening now The 4th assessment report by the Intergovernmental Panel On Climate Change (IPCC) published in 2007 has warned that the warming of the earths climate system is unequivocal. These events have become more frequent and intense in many parts of the world, and Asia is particularly vulnerable to these hazards. The past few years, have witnessed an increase in damage due to the extreme weather events in Southeast Asia itself. Could it get any worse? Unfortunately, it can 3

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OBSERVED CLIMATE CHANGE Climate change will affect ports and port-based economies, depending on their geographic location and the adaptive capacities of the ports and the communities in which they are located. The complexity and potential risks require both the scientific community and the port authorities to take an active role to better understand when and how to implement proactive adaptation strategies. 7

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No longer just for scientist 8

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To remain efficient and resilient, seaports must anticipate the impacts of climate change and proactively prepare for sea level rise, increased flooding, and more frequent extreme storm events (Hallegate 2008; PIANC 2008; UNCTAD 2008; EPA 2008). Climate change will result in number of general impacts on navigation and harbor operation as well as on related infrastructure. 9 OBSERVED CLIMATE CHANGE

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1.Raise of sea level- According to PIANC, sea level rise would have no direct impact on navigation but it would effect port infrastructure and port structure. Global sea level has already risen by 10 cm to 20 cm in the past century, and the pace of sea level rise appears to be accelerating. The IPCC predicts that sea levels could rise 25cm to 58 cm by 2100, but in recent years sea levels have been rising faster than the upper end of the range predicted. 10 Potential Impacts of Climate Change

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The impact of sea level rise are as follows:- The rise in sea level may allow greater penetration of wave energy to the coastline and into port, causing increased coastal erosion in areas with a soft coastline. The elevation at which the wave force attack a structure will increase the exposure of decks of wharfs and piers, increase the corrosion rate and the degradation of material designed for a particular range of sea level conditions A change in high and extreme sea levels may reduced top clearance between ships and bridges 11 Potential Impacts of Climate Change

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Example of breakwater barely coping with storm waves at present water levels [ source Aspects of Potential Climate Change Impacts on Ports & Maritime Operations around the Southern African Coast by Mr. Marius Rossouw and Mr. Andre Theron CSIR, South Africa (Photo: A Theron)] 12

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Another potential impacts on port structures include changes in overtopping and even stability of breakwaters due to increased force from wave action coupled with attack at a higher level on a structure due to sea level rise. Increased sedimentation in harbors, inlets and channels will result in the need for more maintenance dredging to maintain exists access. 13 Potential Impacts of Climate Change

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1 METER RISE = LOSS OF NEW ORLEANS 14

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it may lead to decreased regularity of ports, increased downtime and the requirement for more storage capacity at container terminal for use in times of closure. higher thunderstorm activity is expected in higher latitudes, this would put higher demand on lightning systems and electronics 3. Change in wind conditions According to PIANC an increase in wind speed have some direct effects on navigation. Maneuvering through curved narrow sailing channels would be more difficult 15 2. Changes in storm events and /or frequency

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Related impacts of wind change include increased berthing time and delayed departure time for ships at terminals which may required larger areas for anchoring of waiting vessels. Advantage of this impacts are : An increase in the absolute levels of low and extreme low sea levels will allow greater under keel clearance for vessels Possibly reduce the need for dredging in low sedimentation areas 16

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A wrecked oil platform washes ashore in Alabama in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. 17

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CONCLUSION Most ports do not have specific information about the types of impacts that they can expect on their facilities or the probabilities of different types of impacts occurring. The data that ports typically use for planning purposes do not incorporate climate change forecasts. To help these and other ports assess their risk, more and better data are needed, as well as better planning tools and methods. Asian ports need to better understand climate change and how it may affect them. 18

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THANK YOU 19

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References: (1) PIANC (2008). Waterborne transport, ports and waterways: A review of climate change rivers, impacts, responses and mitigation. EnviCom Task Group 3, PIANC. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)(2007), Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability Climate Change Impacts On International Seaports: Knowledge, Perceptions, and Planning Efforts Among Port Administrators- Corresponding Author : Austin Becker Hallegate 2008; PIANC 2008; UNCTAD 2008; EPA 2008 Planning for Impacts of Climate Change at U.S. Ports; Gallivan, Frank, Bailey, Kathleen, O'Rourke, Laurence Matthew 20