Commitment 01Read more
Adaptation to Climate Change
Preparing Port Cities for the Consequences of Climate Change
Promoting the renaturalisation of river banks and coastline to slow erosion and the impacts of extreme storm events.
How can coastal and environmental protection be combined?
Historically, port cities were established in locations with commercial advantages without considering environmental factors. However, studies of climate change and rising sea levels have highlighted the vulnerability of coastal areas and many port cities. Waterfront sites and areas where cities and ports meet are especially at risk and can serve as testing for resilience strategies inspired by natural functions. In San Diego, the port has partnered with a new technology that combines coastal protection with environmental enhancement, providing new habitats in port areas.
In 2016, the Port of San Diego launched the Blue Economy Incubator (BEI). The Incubator aims to attract new projects and partners, bringing social, environmental, and economic benefits to the Port and the region. Some pilot projects include environmental programs for coastal resilience, marine debris removal, stormwater monitoring and opportunities for shellfish and seaweed aquaculture. One of these projects is the ECOncrete. The company approached BEI in 2020 to present the “Coastalock”, a replacement for traditional armours that provide ecological protection and stabilise the shoreline while contributing to the regeneration of the local ecosystem. The innovative material is made with a low-carbon concrete mixture and bio-enhancing additives, reducing the port’s ecological footprint while protecting the shoreline against extreme weather. Its 8-sided shape integrates niches and crevices, creating tidepools and caves depending on how it is positioned. In 2021, 74 interlocking single-layer armour units were installed in two sections at the port, and the installation process took three days. Since then, the structure has been under constant monitoring, and an increase in the ratio of native to non-native species, biodiversity, species richness, and abundance on the Coastalock units has been observed. This increase was approximately double that of the traditional model. After three years, the pilot phase ended, and its preliminary results sparked interest and received the 2022 Design Educates Award and the 2022 San Diego American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Award for Outstanding Airports and Ports Project.
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