Vulnerability and adaptation
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Vulnerability and adaptation
Feb 10, 2023
Ecopetrol recognizes the importance of identifying the physical climate risks to which people and infrastructure are exposed, and potential impacts on operations and surroundings. The company has developed an acute and chronic physical risks assessment based on the analysis of future climate scenarios and climate variability scenarios at a regional level, from which an adaptation portfolio has been defined.
Physical risk assessment
Regarding acute physical risks, these represent, for the company, a greater vulnerability due to its intensity and frequency, which materialize with the occurrence of phenomena such as “El Niño” and its opposite phase “La Niña”. In this context, Ecopetrol has a specific analysis at regional level, using RCP 6.0 scenario in line with the Comprehensive Climate Change Management Plan for the Mines and Energy sector and the Third National Communication on Climate Change, based on the following model:
Further information, please see in detail: Acute physical risk analysis at regional level
Additionally, to have a higher-level analysis, an assessment was carried out in 95 points associated with Ecopetrol Group main assets, based on IPCC scenarios: (i) Scenario aligned with the objective of the Paris Agreement (SSP1 - RCP 2.6), (ii) Emissions peak in 2040 scenario (SSP2 - RCP 4.5), and (iii) Business as usual scenario (SSP5 - RCP 8.5), for seven physical risks related to chronic hazards (drought, and heat stress) and acute hazards (precipitation, coastal flooding, riverine flooding, wildfires, and wind), using CERVEST EarthScan platform.
Further information, see Risks and Opportunities section.
Variability and climate change measures
To manage physical risks, Ecopetrol has adaptation plans that include short, medium, and long-term measures in the following components:
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Water resource management |
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Objective: |
Reduce the vulnerability to variability and climate change for water scarcity and floods. |
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Short - term (<3 years) |
Medium-term (3 - 5 years) |
Long - term (>5 years) |
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Prevention plans for obtaining water from secondary sources |
Water saving and efficient use programs |
Water management dynamic model |
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Reutilization and disposal alternatives portfolio |
Technological reconversion plans for discharges |
Water neutrality |
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Alert monitoring associated with official IDEAM information |
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Maintenance and cleaning campaigns in priority water bodies for the operation |
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Strategic ecosystems restoration and conservation |
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Objective: |
Reduce vulnerability in strategic ecosystems for operations through conservation, restoration and recovery |
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Short - term (<3 years) |
Medium-term (3 - 5 years) |
Long - term (>5 years) |
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Identification of strategic ecosystems for the protection of water supply sources |
Projects that increase the retention capacity and regulation of water resources |
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Identify, structure and implementation of Natural Climate Solutions |
Natural Climate Solutions portfolio |
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Identify Nature-based Solutions to contribute to strategic ecosystem regulation |
Implementation of nature-based solutions to contribute to strategic ecosystem regulation |
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Climate resilient infrastructure |
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Objective: |
Reduce the vulnerability of Ecopetrol facilities due to the impacts generated by extreme weather events |
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Short-term (<3 years) |
Medium-term (3 - 5 years) |
Long-term (>5 years) |
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Identification of facilities where floods, overflows and/or spills occur. |
Engineering works implementation in the operating areas to reduce incidents due to overflows and/or overflows |
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Maintenance of infrastructure that may be compromised by landslides or mass removal events |
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Climate compatible operation |
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Objective: |
Strengthen operational capacities to deal with the effects of variability and climate change |
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Short-term (<3 years) |
Medium-term (3 - 5 years) |
Long-term (>5 years) |
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Education and training to strengthen the conceptual bases on variability and climate change issues |
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Increase capacity in the understanding and assessment of climate information |
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