Climate Adaption

Adaptation to the consequences of climate change

Because of their geographical location, seaports are particularly affected by the consequences of rising sea levels. Moreover, extreme weather events, such as extreme heatwaves, heavy rainfall and strong winds, can also seriously disrupt port operations. One important instrument for successful adaptation is to assess the extent and the consequences of the impact on the individual ports as early and as accurately as possible. This is essential to identify the measures that are necessary and implement these measures at the right time.

One key area involves structural and physical measures, such as adapting flood barrier systems. However, staff training and institutional measures, such as reviewing safety regulations, can also provide important support for adapting to the consequences of climate change. Over the coming decades, implementing the necessary measures for adaptation to climate change will inevitably be a permanent task and implementation should be integrated into the individual port development projects wherever possible.

Adaptation concepts

for the port facilities in Bremen and Bremerhaven

The strategy for adaptation to climate change for Bremen/Bremerhaven was adopted in 2018. This strategy stipulates the implementation of key measures, i.e. those with the highest priority. These include preparing concepts for adaptation to climate change for the port facilities in Bremen and Bremerhaven in order to ensure that the ports of Bremen remain operational and functioning in future. bremenports has been entrusted with drawing up the contents of the proposed measures in the form of a holistic adaptation concept. The key measures envisage the following: “In addition to pooling the knowledge that is currently available on foreseeable changes resulting from climate change and potential follow-on effects as well as assessing the related risks and opportunities in respect of individual sectors and locations, the objective is to identify and prepare measures and projects to improve resilience, in particular in respect of port development, port construction and in connection with compensatory mitigation measures. Endeavours will simultaneously be made to achieve resilient transport chains at sea and on land.”

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