GCA Launches Landmark Report Revealing Climate Risks to African Ports, Urges Urgent Investment in Resilient Trade Infrastructure
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otterdam, The Netherlands, 5th September 2025 – The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) today launched the inaugural edition of its new Adaptation Insights series, focusing on the climate resilience of African ports. The report, Climate Risks to African Ports: A Trade Corridor Approach for Resilience and Adaptation reveals that climate change is already placing more than $5.3 billion of African trade at risk each year and warns that without urgent adaptation measures, annual climate-related damages and revenue losses could soar to $680 million by 2050—or as much as seven times higher when future trade growth is factored in.
Ports are the arteries of Africa’s economic life, handling more than 90 percent of the continent’s trade by volume. Yet these vital entry points are increasingly threatened by sea-level rise, coastal flooding, extreme heat, and other escalating climate hazards. Drawing on rigorous analysis conducted in collaboration with Delft University of Technology and informed by GCA’s direct technical support to port investment projects through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP), the report offers a unique and practical perspective on how adaptation can be mainstreamed into port development. Case studies from Benin and The Gambia, for example, show how relatively modest investments in climate-resilient infrastructure and operations—such as early warning systems, upgraded access roads, and heat-mitigation measures for workers—can reduce projected losses by up as much as 70 percent and generate long-term economic returns far exceeding their initial costs.
In a foreword to the report, Professor Patrick V. Verkooijen, President and CEO of the Global Center on Adaptation, underscored the magnitude of the challenge and the scale of opportunity. “Ports are the lifeblood of African economies, but they are dangerously exposed to climate shocks that could grind trade to a halt and destabilize entire regions,” said Professor Verkooijen. “This report makes clear that adaptation is not a cost—it is a strategic investment. By building climate-resilient infrastructure today, we are laying the foundation for a future in which African trade thrives, communities prosper and economies stand strong against any storm.”
The report highlights in particular the growing threat of extreme heat to port workers and infrastructure, with 43 African ports expected to experience more than 30 dangerously hot days per year by mid-century—up from just six today. At the Port of Cotonou, for example, heat stress is projected to reduce worker productivity by up to 10 percent on the hottest days, resulting in cumulative losses of over €13 million by 2100 unless adaptive measures are implemented. Recommended interventions include shaded workspaces, cooling facilities, adjusted shift schedules, and selective automation—measures that protect not only worker wellbeing, but operational efficiency and revenue streams.
The report also stresses the importance of redundancy across port-hinterland corridors, noting that Africa’s heavy reliance on a small number of maritime gateways creates chokepoints that could jeopardize food security and trade resilience in the event of climate-induced shutdowns.
Beyond physical upgrades, the report emphasizes the need for a systemic approach to adaptation that includes local climate data, economic impact analysis of port disruptions, and improved governance. It calls for embedding climate adaptation into every stage of port planning and investment—from design and maintenance to financial modeling and public-private partnerships. At a time when infrastructure development is surging under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the findings of the report are timely. The authors argue that integrating resilience into the next wave of port expansion is not only more cost-effective than retrofitting existing infrastructure later, but also essential to attracting sustainable private capital. Yet despite the potential returns, the report notes that less than 3 percent of private climate finance in Africa is currently directed towards adaptation—highlighting a critical financing gap that must be closed through PPP leverage, concessional capital, and more effective risk-sharing mechanisms such as insurance and contingency planning.
“The moment has come for a fundamental shift in how we view ports—not as static assets, but as dynamic systems that must be continuously climate-proofed,” said Professor Verkooijen. “By learning from the science and applying what works, Africa can lead the world in building trade infrastructure that is fit for a changing climate—and unlock a new era of growth, resilience, and regional cooperation.”
Notes to Editors
About the Adaptation Insights Series
The Adaptation Insights series builds on learnings from GCA’s portfolio of over 100 adaptation projects and serves as a vital resource for governments, development banks, investors, and infrastructure operators seeking to understand and respond to the climate crisis with speed and scale.
About the Global Center on Adaptation
The Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) is an international organization that promotes adaptation to the impacts of climate change. It works to climate-proof development by instigating policy reforms and influencing investments made by international financial institutions and the private sector. The goal is to bring climate adaptation to the forefront of the global fight against climate change and ensure that it remains prominent. Founded in 2018, GCA is the first international organization to maintain dual headquarters in both the Global North in Rotterdam and in the Global South in Nairobi – underscoring the equal partnership between regions and the conviction that climate adaptation solutions must be co-designed and co-owned. Its regional hubs in Abidjan, Dhaka and Beijing, leverage local expertise to pilot and scale context-specific approaches. Together these centers ensure a continuous, two-way exchange of knowledge and best practices that empowers communities and drives resilient and inclusive growth worldwide.
