Waterborne transport, ports and navigation: climate change drivers, impacts and mitigation

The paper is based on the recently completed report of a PIANC task group on climate change and navigation. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change updated its reports and ecommendations during 2007. Its assumptions, definitions and findings represent a peer-reviewed body of knowledge that identifies changes in climate and projected future changes. It was timely for IANC to update its position and recommendations regarding climate change.
The main purpose of PIANC EnviCom Task Group 3 was to take a broad look at all aspects of climate change of potential interest to navigation and ports. The Task Group 3 report informs PIANC on how navigation may be affected by climate change and where actions might be taken to develop adaptation strategies, mitigation measures and investments in a pro-active way. This paper reviews the possible effects of climate change on metocean conditions, the consequent impacts on navigation (whether damaging or beneficial), and some of the associated opportunities and vulnerabilities.