Multi-year Expert Meeting
on Transport, Trade Logistics and Trade
Facilitation
Third Session:
Small Island Developing States:
Transport and Trade Logistics
Challenges
24 – 26 November 2014
Impacts of Climate Change Factors on
the Transport Sector
The Case of the Caribbean
Presentation by
Mr. Willard Phillips
Economic Affairs Officer
Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean
This expert paper is reproduced by the UNCTAD secretariat in the form and language in which it
has been received. The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the
view of the United Nations.
11/26/2014
Impacts of Climate Change
Factors on the Transport
Sector
The Case of the Caribbean
Presented by
Willard Phillips
UNECLAC
Transportation Context in the Caribbean
• International, Intraregional, Domestic
• Economies of Scale
• Subject to Economic
and Natural
Vulnerability
• Critical for Movement
of People and Goods
• Technology and Human
Resources
• Financing and
Capitalization
• Climate Change an
Additional Challenge
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11/26/2014
Transportation and Trade
• Transportation is critical
for Caribbean trade
• High import demand
supported by maritime
transport
• But region disadvantaged
by low volume imports
to multiple destinations
– weak scale economy
• Relatively under
developed intra-island
shipping
• Low Liner Shipping
Connectivity Index
(UNCTAD)
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index
Selected Countries
Liner Shipping Connectivity Index - 2013
Selected Countries
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
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Transportation and Tourism
• High trade in services
(tourism) supported by air
transport.
• High share of global cruise
passenger traffic
• International passenger
transport critical to regional
tourism sector
• High incentive cost to keep
international airlines in the
region
• High cost (in terms of money
and time) for intra-regional
passenger travel
Climate Change Impacts: Changes in
Temperature and Precipitation
Impact of Temperature and Precipitation on Total International
Transportation Expenditure - Barbados
(2008 $USD Millions)
$25,000
$20,000
$15,000
$10,000
$5,000
$0
2020
2030
2040
BAU
A2
2050
B2
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Climate Change Impacts: Sea Level Rise
Impact of Sea Level Rise on International
Transportation Infrastructure - Montserrat
(A2 /B2 by 2050)
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0
Land Loss, Square Km
2050 Value of Land Loss
A2
2050 Value of
International Transport
Loss
2050 Value of Rebuilding
Costs
B2
Climate Change Impacts: Transportation
Infrastructure
• Most airports in
Caribbean located on
the coast
• Sea-level rise would
require strengthening
of port infrastructure –
jetties breakwaters
• Increased risk of
overtopping during
storm surges
• Enhancements also
required for marinas
• Extreme weather can
cause flooding of
airports and runways
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Climate Change Impacts: Extreme Events
Extreme weather
can also cause
flooding of airports
and runways
Adaptation Efforts: Jamaica
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Adaptation Efforts: St. Kitts and Nevis
Adaptation Efforts: Dominica
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Future Challenges
• Energy security for transportation
• Building Public Private Partnerships
• Risk Reduction and Resilience
Thank You!
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