Port of Cotonou Expansion

Adaptation Need

The Port of Cotonou faces climate-related risks that could impact its infrastructure, operations, and surrounding areas. For instance, the economic impact of rising temperatures—particularly the increase in days exceeding 35ºC due to climate change—is expected to escalate significantly. As temperatures rise, productivity is expected to decrease by 10% on days exceeding 35ºC (with relative humidity often above 80%). By 2090, under a high-emissions scenario (RCP8.5), the economic impact of this heat stress could escalate from €20,000 annually to more than €2.2 million, driven by an increase in dangerously hot days. While the Port Master Plan includes measures to protect against climate risks, it lacks a detailed analysis and quantification of their effectiveness. There are opportunities to mobilize climate finance to address projected climate risks and enhance the port’s resilience.

GCA’s Added Value

GCA provided a high-granularity climate risks assessment, allowing for a detailed quantification of direct impacts of climate hazards on the assets and operations (damages and revenue losses due to operations disruptions). GCA proposed a prioritized set of economically viable adaptation measures mitigating the identified risks. GCA technical analysis was delivered as an investment rationale, highlighting and quantifying costs and clear benefits over time of investing in such adaptation measures. The financing rationale provided by GCA successfully supported AfDB to request adaptation finance for these adaptation and resilience interventions.