Climate change adaptation guidelines for ports. Enhancing the resilience of seaports to a changing climate report series
Authors: Helen Scott, Darryn McEvoy, Prem Chhetri, Fatima Basic and Jane Mullett
Year: 2013
One of the main challenges of climate adaptation for ports is that many of the future climate change impacts may fall outside the traditional planning horizon of the port, but need to be considered now. This report outlines a hybrid vulnerability/risk management approach to assist ports in managing climate risks. The approach is underpinned by the risk management process outlined in the international standard AS/NZS ISO 31000:2009 which includes 5 key steps: (1) establishing the context,(2) identifying risks, (3) analysing risks, (4) evaluating risks, (5) treating the risks. The key modification to this standard process is the integration of primary data from port personnel to determine current vulnerability. Examples from international sea-ports studies and Australian case study ports (namely, Gladstone Ports Corporation (Gladstone), Sydney Ports Corporation (Port Botany), & Port Kembla Port Corporation) are used to contextualise each step of the process. This report also identifies adaptation actions that have already been taken by the case study ports, as well as 6 key training opportunities for building adaptive capacity. Port management and personnel are recommended to undergo training in: executive risk and climate awareness, strategic futures (scenario planning), adaptation of organisational management systems to incorporate climate considerations, specific and general climate risk, and identification and interpretation of appropriate climate change info.
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