Port Climate action at Rotterdam

Rinske van der MeerPort of Rotterdam

Hamburg - Le Havre range

HamburgBremen

Le HavreDunkirkZeebrugge

GhentAntwerp

Amsterdam

Rotterdam

Wilhelmshaven

Deltas

Already vulnerable:Flood risk, weather extremes, large exposed population

Further increasing vulnerability, due to human activity, even without climate change:Decreased accretion, subsidence, fast-growing exposed population

Climate change adds:Sea level rise, intensified weather extremes, altered regional run-off/local accretion, regional impacts on ecosystems, freshwater availability, food supplies, human health

Impact on Dutch Delta

Climate change:Sea level rise, intensified weather extremes, altered regional run-off/local accretion, regional impacts on ecosystems, freshwater availability, food supplies, human health

1400 - 1800

1800 - 1900

1920 - 1940

1934 - 1966

1960 - 1970

1970 – 2008

2008 - 2030

Development of the port of Rotterdam

The Rotterdam Rijnmond area

Rotterdam city

Artist impression Maasvlakte 2 Stadshavens

European Hub

Climate challenges

Sustainable growth (mitigation)

Port area adaptation strategy to cope with higher water levels (adaptation)

Guarantying ‘inland transport capacity’ during low river discharge (adaptation)

Guarantying fresh water supply (adaptation)

Open access

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Sustainable growth (Mitigation)

Rotterdam Climate Initiative programme:

2025 50% reduction of CO2 levels of 1990

for Port & City of Rotterdam

1990 2025

Numbers in Mtons/year CO2

in Rotterdam, port & city

CO

2 em

issi

on

CO

2 reduction

24

12

24

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

1715

1990 2025

12

Energy savings

Renewable energy

20252005

Numbers in Mtons/year CO2

in Rotterdam, port & city

CO2 capture/storage

3

13

8

3 4

24

29

1025

46

-20

-7

-6-1CO2 capture/use

RemainingCO2 emission

RCI -50%compared to 1990

Petrochemical industry

Electricity production

CO

2 em

issi

onC

O2 reduction

CO2 reduction-measures:

24

12

Transportation& Buildings

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Improvement in 3 areas

Influence: highEffect: limited

Influence: fairEffect: fair

Influence: limited Effect: high

PoR-operations Port area Chain

11Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

High water levels: Flood risk (adaptation 1)

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Starting point

Uncertainties on (level of) climate change

No standards for unembanked areas

Questions of customers

No regulated liability

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Port area adaptation strategyResearch has been done on current and future chances and consequences of flooding

Results

Wide range of possible scenarios

Consequences differ for embanked/unembanked areas

The current chance of flooding is small (1:1,000 years)

Action

Issue is urgent but not acute: The port should adjust at times when opportunities occur

Opt for flexible, non regret solutions

Together with the public stakeholders a toolbox has been developed in order to prevent casualties and social disorder due to flooding

Coming up: communication plan for port industry

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Flood risk and consequences

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Consequences of severe flooding

(Death) Victims: unlikely

Society in disorder: possible

Environmental damage: strongly dependant on area use

Economic loss: strongly dependant on area use

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Example: Port City

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Low water: Impact on shipping (adaptation 2)

Starting point

Rotterdam is blessed by its natural hinterland connection

Barge is taking up an increasing percentage of the modal split

Low discharge (low water levels) lower the capacity of the water level

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Rotterdam perfectly linked to European inland waterways

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

2007 2035

RAIL

BARGE

ROAD

Containers Maasvlakte

49%

35%

37% 45%

14% 20%

Modal split, percentage barge is growing

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Example: Low water = less capacity

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Recent calamity: Waldhof Lorelei

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Port action

Government and private companies like Port of Rotterdam create awareness

Early awareness creates opportunities for timely and innovative solutions

Solutions: expansion of storage areas, effective modal shift during low water periods, optimal waterway management (ICT solutions). More extreme solutions are canalization, building of groynes and locks

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Low water level: Fresh water (adaptation 3)

Starting point

High sea water levels in combination with low river discharge causes salt intrusion.

This conflicts with fresh water users in the western part of the Netherlands (also the port industry).

Port action

Although there is still enough fresh water available, the reliability could be less in the future.

Reliability of the fresh water source for the industry is studied and optimised.

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Source for fresh water

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

Open access

Mitigation High Water Inland Transport Fresh Water Open access

The Port of Rotterdam is securing its future by developing climate proofing

CONCLUSION