In BMT’s experience, the resilience planning process is an evidence-based approach, shown to save owners and operators costs and downtime in the future.
Some elements that contribute to this work include:
- A multitude of climate-trend data available can be downscaled to inform risk assessment and planning, with most of these data sets able to be used free of charge.
- In many jurisdictions, port and maritime facilities are included in more detailed coastal hazard studies and investigations undertaken by federal and provincial agencies with access to the outputs of modelling and mapping possible.
- There is existing and emerging guidance available for the sector about climate risk and resilience from organisations such as the World Association for Waterborne Transportation Infrastructure (PIANC1) and other sources such as Canada’s National Adaptation Strategy.
- There is generally a robust understanding of risks and impacts from existing weather events at maritime facilities as well as current management tools and measures (such as disaster management plans, asset management systems, etc.) in place that can be modified to address the additional risk from climate change.
- However, bespoke site-based assessments remain a critical tool for owners and operators to understand and discuss the consequence of these trends at the local scale. This level of detail becomes vital for organisations to accurately assess the potential implications of climate on business operations (including costs), their organisational tolerance to these risks over time and priorities for action.
Investment in the analysis can inform the aspects and areas of existing vulnerability to climate change that need priority treatment and guide the siting and design of future development and expansion.
