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| Ports, SLR and the TPP |
The map to the left shows the sea lanes from the West Coast to pacific trading partners.
Some of those nations have negative bottom lines, such as Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Mexico, and Canada (5 nations @ $1.4 trillion), but others have positive bottom lines, such as Singapore, Brunei, Australia, New Zealand, Peru, and Chile (6 nations, $142.5 billion).
My purpose, today, is not to discuss the good or bad financial dynamics in the context of the TPP.
Dynamics that could end up to be either a profitable or non-profitable exercise (Economic War Of The Pacific, 2, 3, 4, 5; cf. "the text of the TPP agreement remains classified information").
Instead, since I have discussed SLR mainly in the context of its impact on the East Coast from Cape Cod to Cape Hatteras, today I want to discuss, for the most part, the impact SLR will have on the ports of those nations.
It is a fact that SLR is involved in the contemplated international ocean-based commerce and intercourse whether they discuss the issue or not.
Some discussion of the San Francisco Bay and port area (the U.S. side of the coin), in the context of Pacific Ocean SLR has been posted:
2.4 Resources Threatened by Sea Level Rise(The Evolution of Models - 5, emphasis added; cf. this). Let that be an example, in terms of SLR, of the difficulties all of the following ports are facing.
In any given area, rising seas pose a threat to many different types of resources. Among the vulnerable coastal systems are transportation facilities such as roadways, airports, bridges, and mass transit systems; electric utility systems and power plants; stormwater systems and wastewater treatment plants and outfalls; groundwater aquifers; wetlands and fisheries; and many other human and natural systems from homes to schools, hospitals, and industry. Any impacts on resources within the affected area may lead to secondary impacts elsewhere.
...
3,2 ... Facilities At Risk [@ 1 m/3 ft. SLR]
Schools ... 60 ... Healthcare facilities ... 29 ... Fire stations ... 10 ... Police stations ... 8 ... hazardous material sites ... 208 ... buildings ... 49,000 ... lives ... 220,000
3.4.2 Ports
...
Our assessment of future flood risk with sea level rise shows significant flooding is possible at the Port of Oakland. The San Francisco and Oakland airports are also vulnerable to flooding with sea level rise. In addition to directly affecting port operations, sea level rise may cause other interruptions to goods movement at ports. Sea level rise can reduce bridge clearance, thereby reducing the size of ships able to pass or restricting their movements to times of low tide. Higher seas may cause ships to sit higher in the water, possibly resulting in less efficient port operations (National Research Council 1987). These impacts are highly site specific, and somewhat speculative, requiring detailed local study. We also note the connection between possible direct impacts of sea level rise on the ports themselves and possible flooding of transportation (rail and road) corridors to and from the ports.
...
4.1 Conclusions
Rising sea levels will be among the most significant impacts of climate change ...
We estimate that sea level rise will put 220,000 [people at risk] ... with a 1.0 m ... rise in sea levels ... A wide range of critical infrastructure, such as roads, hospitals, schools, emergency facilities, wastewater treatment plants, power plants, and wetlands is also vulnerable. In addition ... property is at risk ... with a 1.0 ... m rise in sea levels ...
The countries and ports at issue in the TPP, in alphabetical order, are:
(most popular)
Adelaide
Brisbane
Darwin
Fremantle
Geelong
Gladstone
Melbourne
Newcastle
Sydney
Chemalmus
Dixon Entrance
Kelsey Bay
Kitimat
Ocean Falls Harbour
Port Hardy
Prince Rupert
Skidegate Landing
Stewart
Tahsis
Vancover Metro
Victoria
Chile
Arica
Iquique
Lirquen
San Antonio
San Vicente
Valparaiso
Kashima
Kobe
Mizushima
Moji
Osaka
Sendai
Tokyo
Yokohama
Malaysia
Dermaga Tanjung Lembung
Johor
Kemaman
Kertih
Kota Kinabalut
Kuantan
Kuching
Kudat
Kunak
Labuan
Lahad Datu
Lumut
Malacca
Miri
Penang
Port Dickson
Port Klang
Sandakan
Sepangar Bay Oil Terminal
Rajang
Sungai Udang
Tanjung Pelepas
Teluk Ewa Jetty
Mexico
Guaymas
Lazaro Cardenas
Manzanillo
Mazatlan
Port of Veracruz
New Zealand
Auckland
Bluff
Dunedin
Gisborne
Greymouth
Lyttelton
Napier
Nelson
Onehunga
Otago
Taharoa
Tarakohe
Tauranga
Timaru
Wanganui
Wellington
Westport
Whakaaropai
Peru
Ilo
Iquitos
Matarani
Paita
Salaverry
Singapore
Vietnam
Cai Mep
Cam Pha
Cao Lanh
Cua Cam
Da Nang
Dai Hung
Sa Dec
Hai Phong
Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon
Nha Trang
Phu My
Quang Ninh
Vat Cach
Have you found any discussion about how those ports are preparing for SLR ("the text of the TPP agreement remains classified information")?
This re-emphasizes the point that governments are not publicly thinking about the SLR that is certainly coming!
Perhaps, because in their sovereign denial they cannot think about it.
Well, perhaps one U.S. Senator knows his stuff, suggesting that we stop building ports at sea level.
HBO Vice: "Our Rising Oceans", with Dr. Eric Rignot:
2:43 - "One meter [of SLR] would be a global catastrophic event, 3 meters would remap the world as we know it?"
2:50 - "Yes, absolutely."
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