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Chinese think tank warns of effects of rising sea levels on oil shipments: Rising sea levels could disrupt crude oil shipments and impact energy security in import-reliant countries, with many of the world’s largest oil terminals at risk of flooding, Reuters reports, citing a report by think tank China Water Risk (CWR). Melting polar ice caps could “sink key oil ports and disrupt global oil trade, but also swamp coastal refineries and petrochemical facilities,” CWR reports.
What are the risks?Some of the world’s largest ports may become inoperable by 2050 due to rising sea levels, according to a separate report by Lloyd Register. A 2021 report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicts sea levels to rise by more than a meter. Ports in low-lying deltas and bunkering facilities are at risk with 12 out of the world’s top 15 tank terminals expected to be impacted by the one meter rise in sea level, CWR said.
Regional exports are in the line of fire: 42% of global crude exports from KSA, Russia, the US, and the UAE stand at risk, in addition to 45% of imports down the line to China, the US, South Korea, and the Netherlands. Japan and South Korea source three quarters of their oil imports from ports vulnerable to the one meter rise in sea level, with most of their receiving terminals also at risk, CWR added.
What can be done? The Global Maritime Trends 2050 report suggested that ports vulnerable to rises could create flood surge barriers. Holland built the Maeslant Barrier, which is a forward flood rise barrier that bears the full force of rising tides from the sea.
