Maritime systems under pressure
Maritime shipping underpins the global economy and the supply chains that our livelihoods depend upon, with 90% of the world’s trade being transported by sea. The role of ports in the maritime system is therefore crucial, providing critical linkages between shipping routes and road and rail connections on land.
The physical effects of climate change are having an increasing impact on maritime infrastructure, including more frequent and severe storms bringing high winds and storm surges, as well as the more gradual impacts of sea level rise. Because ports provide the critical link between shipping and its near universal beneficiaries, they are facing some of the most urgent and costly climate-related impacts. In addition, ports face cumulative pressures from geopolitical uncertainty, net-zero commitments, technological disruption, and the urgent need for social and environmental equity. These challenges, alongside their essential role in global systems, elevate ports as an initial focal point in advancing a resilience-based approach to the transformation of maritime infrastructure.
Resilience4Ports
ICSI is pleased to announce that Dr Darshana Godaliyadde has joined the ICSI team as the Resilience4Ports (R4P) Director. The core focus of the R4P programme is to build a network of ports and communities that seeks to evaluate, co-create and test solutions across a variety of resilience issues. While the programme will focus initially on ports, given their pivotal role and acute climate risk exposures, it is intended to be scalable and encompass other elements of the maritime system.
R4P is a multi-stakeholder, whole-system approach in the global maritime sector that seeks to enhance the resilience of ports and the communities that rely on them. The programme will convene essential partners to develop, pilot, and scale solutions that will serve as the focus for a vibrant and engaging network dedicated to improving the resilience of the global port ecosystem. The R4P programme is led by ICSI (previously Resilience Rising) and supported by core partners Arup, the Climate Champions Team and Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
Want to get involved? Policymakers, engineers, businesses, financiers, and infrastructure owners and operators are invited to join this deeply collaborative programme. Get in touch for more info.
