‘Climate change and impact on ports’- theme at UNCTAD meeting

By Sureka GALAGODA

Ports are likely to be affected directly and indirectly by climate changes, such as rising sea levels, extreme weather conditions and rising temperatures.

Climate change and its impact on ports will be the theme of the upcoming United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) Expert Meeting to be held from September 29-30 in Geneva.

Over 80 percent of world trade volume is carried by sea. International shipping and ports provide crucial links in global supply-chains and are essential for the ability of all countries, including those that are landlocked, to access global markets.

Given the strategic role that ports play as part of the international trading system, it is of vital importance that experts take a closer look at the impact of climate change on sea transport systems and ports in different parts of the world, with broader implications for international trade and for the development prospects of the most vulnerable nations, in particular Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and Small Islands Developing States (SIDS).

A good understanding of the risks and vulnerabilities in the construction, management, and maintenance of ports is key to developing effective measures that will enhance the resilience of systems, and minimise adverse effects of climate change.

Managing Director Atlas Logistics and Secretary NCCSL Sujeiva Samaraweera said that due to global warming sea levels will rise, creating many problems for ports and its owners. He said that among the issues that ports and ships will face, include carrying of less cargo due to the rise in sea levels, while at some ports infrastructure will have to be upgraded to face high tides.

Upgrading infrastructure will incur cost and will be passed on to the consumer.

Vessels will have to be re-routed due to increasing sea levels while it can cause a delay in vessel transit times, he said. The National Chamber of Commerce of Sri Lanka (NCCSL) is trying to get people interested in carbon credits.

Samaraweera said that most of the carbon is added by the port and shipping industry in Sri Lanka. There are emissions of carbon dioxide and due to lot of idling time, there is a waste of energy and man hours.

He said that implementing a proper plan to manage traffic congestion inside the port and rethinking traffic arrangements will help our country. “ We can’t wait until somebody imposes rules and regulations therefore we at NCCSL have started to do the spade work

CEO Shippers Academy, Rohan Masakorala said discussions on global warming is taking place for some time and experts are discussing what remedial measures can be taken to mitigate it.

He said that there will be lots of problems to regional ports and river based ports. Masakorala said that rising sea levels will create problems for ports but said that he has not seen any studies on climate change and its effects on ports done in Sri Lanka.

The meeting in Geneva will bring together policy makers, planning authorities, port industry representatives and operators, as well as engineers, who will share insights and discuss pertinent issues to identify vulnerabilities and risks, adaptation requirements, information sources, and partners for effective collaboration.