From Galveston To Ras Tanura, World's 13 Biggest Oil Terminals Face Damage From Just One Meter Of Sea Level Rise

[hatrack]

Rising sea levels driven by the climate crisis will overwhelm many of the world’s biggest oil ports, analysis indicates. Scientists said the threat was ironic as fossil fuel burning causes global heating. They said reducing emissions by moving to renewable energy would halt global heating and deliver more reliable energy.

Thirteen of the ports with the highest supertanker traffic will be seriously damaged by just 1 metre of sea level rise, the analysis found. The researchers said two low-lying ports in Saudi Arabia – Ras Tanura and Yanbu – were particularly vulnerable. Both are operated by Aramco, the Saudi state oil firm, and 98% of the country’s oil exports leave via these ports. The oil ports of Houston and Galveston in the US, the world’s biggest oil producer, are also on the list, as are ports in the United Arab Emirates, China, Singapore and the Netherlands.

The latest science published by the International Cryosphere Climate Initiative (ICCI) shows 1 metre of sea level rise is now inevitable within a century or so and could come as early as 2070 if ice sheets collapse and emissions are not curbed. An even more catastrophic rise of 3 metres is probably inevitable in the next millennium or two and could arrive as soon as the early 2100s. Sea level rise is already causing problems around the world even before it overtops coastline developments. The rise to date means storm surges are higher and significantly more likely to cause coastal flooding, while infiltration of saltwater into coastal land can corrode foundations, the researchers note. Cutting emissions sharply would not only slow the rate of sea level rise but also limit the ultimate rise.

EDIT

The new analysis built on work from May in which researchers found that 12 of the 15 oil ports with the biggest oil tanker traffic were vulnerable to sea level rise. Maps of sea level rise from Climate Central and GoogleMaps were used to show that a 1-metre rise would damage jetties, oil storage facilities, refineries and other infrastructure. The new analysis added the second Saudi port, Yanbu, which is also at high risk with a 1-metre rise. The team used Bloomberg oil export data to estimate the volume and value of the oil being imported and exported from the ports. Together, Ras Tanura and Yanbu exported $214bn (£171bn) worth of oil in 2023. In total, the 13 ports accounted for about 20% of global oil exports in 2023.

EDIT

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/04/climate-driven-sea-level-rise-set-to-flood-major-oil-ports

[multigraincracker]

1. Rather than fix it..

They’ll just spend a million or 2 on an add saying how green they are.

You might like reading
When McKinsey Comes
To Town.

Had never heard of them before.

[IbogaProject]

2. When McKinsey Comes to Town: The Hidden Influence of the World's Most Powerful Consulting Firm

Is the full title.

[multigraincracker]

3. Have you ever heard about that consulting firm?

They do need some sunshine on them. Like Mayor Pete B. Worked for a few years for them. Says he cannot comment because of NDA. Big disappointment for me.