Airports are vital economic hubs but increasingly vulnerable to climate-related disasters. Enhancing resilience is critical with global airport investments projected to reach USD 2.4 trillion by 2040.
The Global Study on Disaster Resilience of Airports by CDRI surveyed 111 airports across 54 countries, highlighting risks like rising sea levels and extreme weather.
CDRI’s “Five Steps towards Resilience of Airports” include periodic vulnerability assessments, comprehensive risk evaluations, understanding risk appetite, stakeholder collaboration, and integrated disaster resilience planning. These measures aim to minimize disruptions, accelerate recovery, and protect infrastructure. However, challenges such as inconsistent risk assessment frameworks and stakeholder coordination persist.
CDRI provides technical assistance, knowledge sharing, and capacity-building to address these gaps, fostering resilient airport ecosystems aligned with global climate objectives. Strengthening disaster resilience is essential to safeguarding air travel and economic stability.
Key points
- Airports face climate vulnerabilities, affecting economies and vital infrastructure connections worldwide.
- Global airport investments demand resilience strategies to safeguard operations and financial stability.
- CDRI’s 2023 study highlights adaptation needs for extreme weather and sea-level rise.
- Five resilience steps: assessments, risk evaluations, risk appetite, collaboration, integrated planning.
- Challenges include inconsistent risk frameworks, stakeholder alignment, and financial constraints on upgrades.
- CDRI aids resilience through technical support, collaboration, knowledge sharing, and training.