IHNC Lake Borgne Surge Barrer Photo: Team New Orleans / CC-BY

The Inner Harbor Navigation Canal Lake Borgne Surge Barrier was completed in 2013 near the confluence of and across the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway and the Mississippi River Gulf Outlet near New Orleans. Designed to defend against a 100-yr storm surge, the 1,8-mile long flood wall includes three navigable flood gates. Organic material dredged during construction was deposited in nearby wetland habitats to enhance environmental conditions.

Adaptation of inland and maritime navigation infrastructure

We believe it is time to stop using uncertainty as an excuse for inaction. The evidence is unequivocal. Climate change is happening. Adaptation of inland and maritime navigation infrastructure is vital, and the time to act is now.

The agreement reached at the COP21 meetings in Paris in December 2015 to limit warming to less than two degrees represented a significant step for the international community. Notwithstanding this agreement, however, climate scientists are in general agreement that the world is already locked in to further change in key climate parameters. If we fail to achieve the less than two degrees goal, things will get worse still.

The Navigating a Changing Climate Partnerships believe that it is time to stop using uncertainty as a reason for inaction. Scientific evidence is unequivocal: the climate is changing. Adaptation of navigation infrastructure is vital, and the time to act is now.

In addition to contributing to mitigation, it is therefore vital for the sector to coordinate globally and act locally to adapt waterborne transport infrastructure and the operations that depend on it to the changing climate; and to strengthen resilience – in turn reducing the vulnerability of the sector to more frequent extreme events. Such action will be vital to ensure navigational safety, to reduce downtime and protect business continuity.

The recent IPCC report on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability (IPCC, 2022) highlights the ‘dire consequences’ of failing to adapt to climate change.  The IPCC makes clear that urgent action is needed to adapt infrastructure – including port and navigation infrastructure…
Published in NavClimate News
Is climate change affecting pilots and ports today? - IMarEST member, maritime pilotage consultant and former head of UK Maritime Pilots Association (UKMPA), Don Cockrill MBE CMMar FNI fears extreme weather is not being taken seriously.
Published in News
International shipping is a vital industry, facilitating global trade and transporting people around the world. At the same time, it produces greenhouse gas emissions – comparable in scale to industrialised nations such as Germany or Japan - and is a…
Published in News
The 2022 Working Group II report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, entitled Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, presents “a dire warning about the consequences of inaction” according to the Panel Chair*. Insofar as waterborne transport infrastructure is concerned, the…
Published in News
An article by the Climate Champions' Ocean Lead, Ignace Beguin Billecocq and Shipping Lead Katharine Palmer, writing with Susan Ruffo (UN Foundation) highlights the shipping industry's role in eliminating greenhouse gas emissions, building the resilience of communities and infrastructure, regenerating…
Published in News
Thursday, 18 November 2021 17:10

UNCTAD 2021 Maritime Transport Review published

UNCTAD's 2021 review of maritime transport has been launched.   This publication, prepared by the UNCTAD secretariat, aims to foster the transparency of maritime markets and to analyse relevant developments. While there were far-reaching implications for seafarers during the period…
Published in News
Climate Change and Sediment Management Pledge. Climate change is an existential threat.  In the lead up to COP26, commitment to tackling the climate and ecological emergencies has never been greater. There is a need for urgent action, across all sectors,…
Published in NavClimate News
Wednesday, 27 October 2021 08:29

Join us virtually at COP26

COP26 in Glasgow is just around the corner with various events of relevance to the ports and navigation sector, for example: - on 2 and 3 November, a conference organised by the UK ports entitled ‘Practical climate change adaptation solutions…
Published in NavClimate News
A recording of the recent PIANC-NavClimate panel discussion event 'Assessing Resilience: Case Studies and a Path Forward for the Resilience of Maritime and Inland Waterborne Transport Systems' is now available on PIANC International’s YouTube channel. See: https://youtu.be/GxttSTXhy2E
Published in NavClimate News
Final announcement and registration details Working with Nature for Climate-Resilient Ports and Waterways - Virtual Workshop Sponsored by PIANC and Navigating a Changing Climate September 14 & 15 PIANC’s Environment Commission (EnviCom) and Navigating a Changing Climate Partnership are collaborating…
Published in NavClimate News
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