World’s Ports Join Forces in Climate Plan

The Port of Rotterdam Authority has announced the launch of the World Ports Climate Action Program, a new initiative in which several world ports will join forces to combat climate change.

In this new international initiative, the port authorities of Hamburg, Barcelona, Antwerp, Los Angeles, Long Beach, Vancouver and Rotterdam will be working together on a number of projects that address the issue of global warming.

Allard Castelein: “The Paris Agreement has set a clear target: we need to limit global warming to well below 2°C. It is vital in this context to reduce the emissions generated by maritime transport.

“As critical hubs in the global maritime transport network, I am convinced that ports can make a significant contribution.

“I am pleased to see that international port authorities have taken on a leading role in this area, committing to collaborative projects that can further advance the decarbonization of the maritime transport sector.”

The World Ports Climate Action Program focuses on the following specific actions:

1. Increase efficiency of supply chains using digital tools;
2. Advance common and ambitious (public) policy approaches aimed at reducing emissions within larger geographic areas;
3. Accelerate development of in-port renewable power-2-ship solutions and other zero emission solutions;
4. Accelerate the development of commercially viable sustainable low-carbon fuels for maritime transport and infrastructure for electrification of ship propulsion systems.
5. Accelerate efforts to fully decarbonize cargo-handling facilities in our ports.

The Port Authority organisations call upon the shipping industry and other ports to join the commitment to deliver on the Paris Agreement and to work together on actions that yield measurable results.

To increase the impact of the programme, the port authority network asks governments and regulators to adopt global – or, at the very least, international – policies for CO2 pricing and provide funding support to relevant R&D and pilot projects.

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