IMF Conference

The PortWatch online platform was officially launched on November 15, 2023. It is an open platform designed to monitor and simulate trade disruptions from climate extremes and other shocks.

PortWatch Overview:

The PortWatch project is a winner of the IMF Climate Innovation Challenge, sponsored by the Swiss Secretariat of Economic Affairs. Building on extensive research, PortWatch uses satellite-based vessel data and big data analytics to produce actionable insights for policymakers, international organizations, and the general public. With cutting-edge analytical tools, users can assess the regional and global impacts of both realized and potential disasters. A unique feature of PortWatch is its disaster alert system, providing weekly email alerts on trade disruptions in affected countries. Subscribe here for email alerts.

PortWatch is a collaborative project between the IMF and the University of Oxford, bringing together experts from macroeconomics, climate risk modeling, and data science.

Event Highlights:

• Official launch of the PortWatch platform
• Presentation of the project's findings and capabilities
• Live demonstration and case studies
• Introduction to the disaster alert system
• Q&A session with the PortWatch project team

The PortWatch team also held a press briefing on the release of the platform – watch it here: