Port demonstrates best practice with Climate Change Adaptation Report

The Port of Dover has published its first Climate Change Adaptation Report. A requirement following the 2008 Climate Change Act, the aim of the report is to comprehensively assess the risk from climate change posed to port operations, assets and services and outlines the organisation's proposals and policies for adaptation. The report was submitted to Defra (Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) in March 2011.

The 2009 UK Climate Projections were used to provide detailed data for the Dover area upon which to base the risk assessment. The assessment included the Port's supply chain and external relationships as well as market demand to ensure that a full assessment of the risks was carried out.

As there was a lack of previous examples of such reports, the Port undertook extensive preparation and training and was delighted to receive a letter on 17th August 2011 from Lord Henley, Secretary of State at the time, to confirm that the Port's report fulfilled the requirements of the Act as well as complying with expert analysis from Cranfield University: "Dover clearly considers climate to be a key issue for long term planning and it is excellent to see that consideration of the issues is being embedded into business practices. The good quality report produced for Dover clearly demonstrates actions being taken to prepare both infrastructure and operations."

Vicki Case, Environmental Officer, Port of Dover, said: "The Port was commended for thoroughly identifying interdependencies and stakeholders throughout the UK and Europe and for taking a flexible approach to managing climate change risks."

The letter also acknowledges and applauds the inclusion of climate change considerations as part of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Port's proposed second ferry terminal (Terminal 2).

Lord Henley continues: "Your decision to account for future climate change in your investment decisions, such as your new ferry dock, is good practice that I hope other organisations replicate as appropriate."

Bob Goldfield, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, added: "Such recognition of the quality of our report is tribute to the significant lengths we go to in order to remain at the forefront of our sector on the major issues facing the industry."