Africa’s ports, through which 90% of its trade flows, are at the frontline of climate risk. Already, $5.3 billion of annual trade is exposed to disruptions, with damages projected to rise to $530–680 million a year by 2050. Beyond financial costs, rising extreme heat will strain operations, with 43 ports set to face over 30 dangerously hot days annually by mid-century, threatening worker health and productivity.

But the risks are matched by opportunities. Strategic adaptation measures can cut climate-related risks by up to 70%, ensuring ports remain the continent’s resilient trade lifelines. Strengthening redundancy through diversified ports and climate-proofed transport corridors will secure supply chains and reduce costs. Unlocking private sector investment is pivotal: while private finance makes up just 14% of climate funding today, it holds the key to bridging the adaptation gap. Aligning incentives between financiers and beneficiaries will be crucial to mobilize the scale of capital Africa needs to protect its trade future.

This first report in the Adaptation Insights series—built on GCA’s hands-on experience climate-proofing development investments across Africa through the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program—proves that the science is clear and the solutions are proven. The moment has come for policymakers, financiers, port authorities, and private-sector leaders to translate these lessons into action.

This Adaptation Insights on Ports is the result of a collaborative effort between the Global Center on Adaptation (GCA) and Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), developed by Adele Cadario (Global Lead), Anne-Laure Solnon (Specialist), and Abraar Ahmad (Program Officer) from GCA, and Jasper Verschuur (Assistant Professor) from TU Delft, under the guidance of Nitin Jain (Sr. Director Programs, GCA). 

The report draws on the expertise and insights developed through GCA’s collaboration with the African Development Bank to support the integration of adaptation and resilience options within port development investment projects, under the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program (AAAP). Data presented in this report draws from the work of Verschuur, J., Koks, E. E., & Hall, J. W. (2022)Ports’ criticality in international trade and global supply-chains, Nature Communications. 

The Adaptation Insights on Ports would not have been possible without the generous financial contributions of funding partners supporting the Africa Adaptation Acceleration Program Upstream Financing Facility, managed by GCA.