Port resilience guidance, studies and tools can be useful for a wide range of practitioners but it can be hard to find the right one for the task at hand. We have assessed a wide range of tools, guidance documents and reports, which are listed below, mapped by the maritime resilience breakthroughs they support and the Port Resilience Framework for Action goals that they help to achieve.
Use the filters to break down the results by document type and community of practice.
RTI International
2022
This report summarises existing evidence and estimates of the impacts and costs of climate-related hazards, as well as expands on these findings to provide new estimates of the potential global costs of climate change for shipping and ports.
Race to Resilience
2022
The Adaptation and Resilience Breakthroughs report highlights the urgent need to accelerate global efforts in adaptation and resilience ahead of COP27. While progress in mitigating climate change is essential, the report emphasizes that it is insufficient to prevent climate devastation. The Breakthroughs aim to achieve system-level transformations and measurable outcomes by 2030, focusing on key impact areas such as climate-resilient agriculture, food security, water and nature conservation, climate-smart energy, and improved urban planning. The report calls for radical collaboration among various stakeholders, including non-state actors, to implement transformative solutions and align with the Race to Resilience campaign’s goal of making 4 billion vulnerable people more resilient by 2030.
AIVP
2022
Port cities, facing climate change’s severe impacts, serve as testing grounds for innovative solutions in energy, industry, mobility, and culture. The AIVP Agenda 2030 outlines 10 key goals and 46 actionable measures for sustainable port cities. These goals align with multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), emphasizing a holistic approach to sustainable development. AIVP aims to inspire port and city stakeholders to implement the Agenda 2030, optimizing investments and resources for a resilient, environmentally-friendly, and economically vibrant future.
PIANC
2023
This PIANC report addresses the need for innovative and sustainable approaches to manage dredged sediment in light of societal challenges like urbanization, environmental pressures, and climate change. It emphasizes the principles of Beneficial Use (BU) while recognizing the varying socio-economic, environmental, and legal conditions across regions. The report underscores the importance of evaluating BU potential diligently for sediment dredging projects, tailored to site-specific conditions. It outlines how dredged sediment can yield environmental, societal, and economic benefits, aiming to inform and promote BU practices on a global scale. Achieving these goals calls for a shift in perspectives, requiring collaborative planning among stakeholders for future BU projects.
UNCTAD
2022
The guidebook offers a comprehensive approach to enhancing resilience in the maritime supply chain, primarily focusing on container ports. It outlines strategies for risk identification, assessment, and management, covering measures to be taken before, during, and after disruptions. The target audience includes various stakeholders in the port ecosystem, such as government agencies, port authorities, operators, and others. The guidebook is structured into four parts, addressing risk management concepts, hazard scenarios, case studies, and additional resources. Its primary goal is to foster collaboration among stakeholders to ensure the continued reliability of container ports, which are vital to global trade.
IPCC
2023
This Synthesis Report (SYR) of the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report (AR6) summarises the state of knowledge of climate change, its widespread impacts and risks, and climate change mitigation and adaptation, based on the peer-reviewed scientific, technical and socio-economic literature since the publication of the IPCC’s Fifth Assessment Report (AR5) in 2014.
PIANC
2020
PIANC’s Climate Change Adaptation Planning for Ports and Inland Waterways provides guidance on addressing climate change impacts on port and inland waterway infrastructure. The document outlines key vulnerabilities, such as sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and changing hydrology, and offers comprehensive strategies to enhance climate resilience. It emphasizes the importance of risk assessments, adaptive management, and integrating climate considerations into planning and design processes. By incorporating sustainable and flexible solutions, the guidance aims to assist port authorities and waterway managers in effectively adapting to climate change, ensuring long-term viability and minimizing disruptions to global trade and transportation.
PIANC
2008
PIANC’s “Climate Change and Navigation” offers a comprehensive review of climate change drivers, impacts, responses, and mitigation in waterborne transport, ports, and waterways. It examines how rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and changing hydrology affect navigation infrastructure. The report emphasizes the urgency of integrating climate resilience into planning, design, and operations. It explores adaptive strategies, such as risk assessments, contingency planning, and data-driven decision-making, to manage climate-induced challenges. Mitigation measures, including green technologies and sustainable practices, are also discussed to reduce the carbon footprint of waterborne transport. The report provides crucial guidance for building climate resilience and sustainability in the maritime sector.
HR Wallingford
2021
Climate Change and Ports examines climate change effects on ports, including rising sea levels, storms, and erosion. Disruptions to port operations, infrastructure damage, and increased costs are highlighted. Adaptation strategies focus on resilient infrastructure, flood defences, and sustainable port design. Collaboration among stakeholders is emphasized, along with risk assessments and long-term planning to address vulnerabilities. Green infrastructure integration offers added protection. Overall, the study aims to provide insights and recommended strategies to ensure ports’ functionality and resilience amid changing climate conditions.
UNCTAD
2020
“Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation for Coastal Transport Infrastructure: A Compilation of Policies and Practices” provides a comprehensive overview of the effects of climate change on coastal transport infrastructure and offers various policies and practices to address these challenges. The document emphasizes the vulnerability of ports and coastal transport systems to rising sea levels, extreme weather events, and flooding. It compiles a range of adaptation strategies, risk assessments, and technical solutions to enhance the climate resilience of coastal infrastructure. The aim is to guide policymakers, stakeholders, and industry professionals in developing effective climate change adaptation measures for sustainable and resilient coastal transportation systems.
Regina Asariotis (UNCTAD)
2021
The article discusses the growing threat of climate change impacts on seaports and their importance for sustainable trade and development. Seaports are crucial for global trade and the blue economy, but they are highly exposed to climate-related hazards such as rising sea levels, storm surges, and flooding. As climate change intensifies, economic losses from damages and disruptions to supply chains may increase significantly. The need to enhance climate resilience for seaports is urgent, particularly for small island developing states and vulnerable coastal nations. Adaptation measures, risk assessments, and investment in resilient infrastructure are essential to mitigate the risks and ensure sustainable development and trade.
Global Center on Adaptation
2025
This handbook distills leading practices and guidance on climate resilience and adaptation in infrastructure PPPs. It has been developed through a comprehensive review of existing resources and best practices, alongside consultations with industry experts, financial institutions, and practitioners with direct experience in implementing climate-resilient infrastructure projects.
Haskoning
2025
This white paper provides a comprehensive and practical framework to understand climate risks, plan adaptive responses, and integrate resilience into core business strategy.
Boston Planning & Development Agency
2019
The Coastal Flood Resilience Design Guidelines provide comprehensive recommendations for creating resilient coastal infrastructure. The guidelines emphasize incorporating adaptable designs, natural features, and sustainable practices to mitigate the impacts of flooding events. Key elements include elevating structures above flood levels, using resilient materials, and implementing nature-based solutions like wetlands and dunes. Collaboration with local communities, data-driven risk assessments, and long-term planning are central to these guidelines, ensuring coastal areas can withstand and recover from flooding while safeguarding human safety, preserving ecosystems, and supporting sustainable development.
US Army Corps of Engineers
2013
Coastal areas are especially vulnerable to hazards, now and in the future, posed by waves and surges associated with sea level change and coastal storms. Coastal risk reduction can be achieved through a variety of approaches, including natural or nature-based features (e.g., wetlands and dunes), nonstructural interventions (e.g., policies, building codes and emergency response such as early warning and evacuation plans), and structural interventions (e.g., seawalls and breakwaters). This paper discusses USACEÂ’s capabilities to help reduce coastal risks from and improve resilience to these hazards through an integrated approach that draws from the full array of coastal risk reduction measures.
PIANC
2023
PIANC’s Working Group 157 presents international best management practices in its guidelines to protect coastal plant habitats like mangroves, salt marshes, seagrass beds, and macroalgal communities during dredging and construction activities. These ecosystems play a crucial role in climate change mitigation, offering coastal protection and carbon storage. The guide emphasizes environmental monitoring, adaptive management, impact assessment, and techniques for minimizing, mitigating, or compensating damage. It also highlights habitat restoration and beneficial reuse of dredged materials. Crafted by a team of global experts, the guidelines incorporate case studies and aim to facilitate responsible environmental management in coastal plant habitats near dredging and construction sites worldwide, albeit without mandatory compliance.
PIANC
2023
The report by PIANC’s Task Group 234 addresses the need for infrastructure to support zero-emission vessels in inland waterway transport (IWT). It compiles insights on decarbonization developments and energy carriers, offering key questions and a method for addressing infrastructure challenges. The report recommends PIANC to establish a working group focused on pathways and decision-making for decarbonizing IWT rather than just hardware specifications. The document, submitted for PIANC’s consideration, provides seven case studies demonstrating sustainable practices, including the Panama Canal’s success and lessons learned from the unsustainable Mississippi River Gulf Outlet in the USA.
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill & Coastal Resilience Center, A U.S. Department of Homeland Security Center of Excellence
2016
The Integrating Maritime and Coastal Resilience report offers a summary of key findings, research questions raised, and shared knowledge resulting from the Maritime Risk Symposium. The overarching summary of the event is that maritime and coastal sectors require interdependency for resilience to be achieved. To maintain this approach to resilience the findings suggest developing resilience from a regional scale using interdisciplinary teams that use quantitative and qualitative methods for resilient solutions.
PIANC
2022
Managing Climate Change Uncertainties explores uncertainties in selecting, designing, and evaluating resilient navigation infrastructure amidst climate change. The study acknowledges the unpredictability of future climate conditions, including rising sea levels and extreme weather events. It focuses on navigation infrastructure’s adaptability, considering various scenarios and uncertainties. The research aims to identify optimal options for infrastructure design, ensuring it can withstand and respond to potential climate impacts. By addressing uncertainties through risk assessments and adaptive planning, the study provides valuable guidance for developing resilient navigation infrastructure that can effectively navigate the challenges posed by climate change.