Shipping and the ports industry are involved in the most
international of industries. Over 90% of world trade, by mass, is
carried by shipping.
Understanding of climate change impacts on shipping is very
limited with little in the traditional scientific literature. Here
we present evidence drawn from a wider body of information
(including non-scientific literature, speeches technical documents
and news articles) to discuss the wide range of issues facing this
sector.
At a national level the UK Department for Transport states that
"no specific research has been done into the impact of climate
change on shipping. However discussions with the Maritime and
Coastguard Agency suggest that increased storminess and sea levels
/ reduction in polar ice are probably the most important
factors." The major impacts of climate change on ports are
likely to be floods, infrastructural damage, and operational
disruption. Ports will need to consider climate change in light of
new infrastructure which may have a life span into the next
century.
Shipping is an international service industry which responds to
the derived demand. Its major assets operate in the global economy
and are subject to economic cycles. As such one of the main impacts
of climate change upon shipping is the need for shipping to
contribute to the mitigation of climate change, along with the
ongoing impacts of climate change on the global economy. The role
of the regulator, the responsible ship owner and the market
interact to make progress, where technological advances and uptake
will be key.
