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The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has launched Phase 2 of its #FutureSAR initiative, funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation, to help search and rescue (SAR) organisations prepare for the growing impact of climate change. The new report, Harnessing the Tides of Change, introduces practical tools designed to strengthen climate readiness across the global SAR community.
Climate change is already reshaping rescue conditions. Longer seasons, unpredictable weather and rising seas are increasing operational risks, while SAR crews face shorter recovery times and infrastructure comes under greater strain. These challenges demand a consistent, structured approach to resilience – and that’s what #FutureSAR delivers.
At the heart of Phase 2 is the Climate Change Impact Response Card, a simple electronic tool that guides organisations through assessing hazards, risks and adaptive capacity. By providing a shared framework for planning and learning, #FutureSAR supports maritime SAR teams worldwide in responding with confidence and clarity.
Caroline Jupe, CEO of the IMRF, said: “The climate is shifting quickly and the demands on maritime search and rescue are shifting with it. Phase 2 of #FutureSAR provides the tools we can use to act now. By giving organisations, a clear way to measure risk and plan adaptation, and by sharing learning through the new resilience library, we can strengthen the global SAR network in a practical, coordinated way. This is the kind of forward planning that keeps SAR services ready and allows them to adapt.”
The second development is the SAR Impact Response Card Library, an online resource that allows IMRF members to share completed Impact Response Cards and learn from one another. The library is searchable by hazard and location, and members can choose how much detail to make visible. This flexible approach allows organisations to compare scenarios and actions, while retaining control of sensitive operational information.
The report also presents a series of case studies illustrating how climate impacts are shaping real world operations. These include hybrid and electric rescue vessels entering service, the growing toll of extreme conditions on personnel, the rapid increase in flood rescue, shifting activity in the Arctic, the vulnerability of rescue stations to rising seas, and new challenges arising from changes in marine life. Together, these examples show that climate impacts are already part of daily practice for SAR organisations worldwide.
Phase 2 concludes with policy recommendations that call for improved access to resilience funding, closer collaboration with insurers, and stronger engagement from industries that depend on maritime safety. Alongside the report, the IMRF also published a position paper, Building Climate Resilience in Global Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR). The position paper highlights that as climate change reshapes the risks facing SAR operations, it also presents an opportunity for innovation, cooperation, and the long-term strengthening of global maritime rescue services.
The report notes that without long term investment, SAR organisations risk being forced into a reactive cycle, where resources are repeatedly diverted to addressing immediate impacts rather than being directed towards essential adaptation and resilience building work.
Through these new tools and the insights gathered from global partners, the #FutureSAR initiative aims to ensure that SAR services remain ready to respond, even as coastlines, weather patterns and operational demands continue to change. The IMRF encourages all member organisations to begin by completing a single Impact Response Card and contributing to the shared learning within the SAR Impact Response Card Library.
Climate resilience is one of the core challenges we need to address in order to bring further improvements to the safer maritime systems we are committed to upholding. The #FutureSAR programme provides maritime SAR organisations with evidence-based guidance and a structured way to learn from one another. These tools will help services prepare for the rising operational demands created by climate change, while supporting their long term ability to protect lives. We are pleased to support work that strengthens safety, knowledge and collaboration across the global maritime SAR community.
Olivia Swift Head of Maritime Systems, Lloyd's Register Foundation
The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF), in partnership with Lloyd’s Register Foundation, has launched the first-ever Global Maritime Search and Rescue (SAR) Systems Review in order to understand, evaluate and help strengthen maritime SAR systems worldwide.
The International Maritime Rescue Federation (IMRF) has announced phase two of its #FutureSAR project – ‘Harnessing Tides of Change’.
The IMRF has released its #FutureSAR Report as part of the organisation’s ongoing campaign to raise awareness of the impacts of climate change on global SAR operations.
