Resilience4Ports

Resilience4Ports (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. As the world undergoes fundamental shifts due to decarbonisation, technological advancement and climate change, R4P seeks to ensure that maritime systems can withstand, recover from and respond to these changes.

The programme is led by the International Coalition for Sustainable Infrastructure (ICSI) (previously Resilience Rising) and supported by core partners the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure, the Climate Champions Team and Lloyd’s Register Foundation and knowledge partners Arup, and Haskoning.

Port Decision Makers’ Guide to Climate Risk Assessment

Launched at COP30, this document aims to increase awareness of the scope, purpose and importance of a Climate Risk Assessment (CRA). It provides practical, actionable insights to port decision-makers on how to effectively commission a CRA.

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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. 

Ports face cumulative pressure from climate change, geopolitical uncertainty, net-zero commitments, technological disruption, and the urgent need for social and environmental equity. These pressures, alongside the essential role of ports in global maritime systems, elevate ports as a focal point in advancing a resilience-based approach to the transformation of maritime infrastructure.

At COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh, the UN High Level Climate Champions announced a comprehensive set of 2030 Adaptation and Resilience Breakthroughs for the shipping sector including a set of port-specific resilience breakthroughs. The R4P programme aligns with the ambitions of these Breakthroughs. It also supports three of the Marrakesh Partnership Resilience Impact Systems defined in the Breakthroughs and will track and report progress against these targets.

The core focus of R4P 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. 

Resilience4Ports will reinforce ports as a leading global example of a just and equitable, net-zero transition that prioritises and effectively implements resilience.

A dramatic view of swirling ocean waves captured from above, showcasing the beauty of maritime motion.

Strategic Plan 2025-27

A renewed strategic approach represents a decisive shift toward direct implementation support that helps ports translate resilience and adaptation concepts and frameworks into operational reality, while directly addressing the persistent capacity and resource gaps that limit resilience implementation.

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Programme Details

R4P will convene essential partners and the practitioners they represent to collectively 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.

It will improve the resilience practice across the ports value chain by bringing together stakeholders and a community of practitioners to raise awareness and strengthen relationships, create a shared understanding of the needs and challenges, and clarify and connect decision-making and investment approaches that can be scaled up.

Working together with a core set of organisations, including a globally-representative cohort of port authorities, owners, and operators, as well as diverse port community stakeholders, Resilience4Ports will focus on:

  • Communication and dissemination of critical research, findings, available solutions and metrics that benefit the ports system as well as the in-land and maritime systems and broader communities that rely upon them. 
  • Piloting priority solutions with partners through concrete action plans and monitoring and evaluation of defined impact metrics. 
  • Sharing of findings from pilot activities and scaling of successful approaches and activities by partners with clear ownership and lines of responsibility. 
  • Establishing a longer-term ports and cities network that can implement, iterate upon, and take the programme’s solutions to scale.

Resilience4Ports Knowledge Library

At COP28, the Resilience4Ports project launched the Resilience4Ports Knowledge Library: the extensive collection of  tools, guidance documents and reports on ports resilience action. They are mapped by organisation, location, the maritime resilience breakthroughs they support and the Port Resilience Framework for Action goals that they help to achieve.

Explore the library

R4P is actively recruiting key stakeholders, subject-matter experts and thought leaders across the ports value chain and throughout the maritime sector to engage in programme activities. We are also seeking port authorities who represent diverse contexts across the world to support programme pilot activities as they emerge.

If you are interested in joining the effort, please reach out to R4P Programme Director, Dr Darshana Godaliyadde, darshana@sustainability-coalition.org or register your interest below.

Core Partners

Knowledge Partners

Members

Register

Please register your interest by completing the form below. Our Program Manager will reach out to you. If you have questions or specific requests, please reach out to icsi@sustainability-coalition.org.

Resources