Barcelona Container Port Photo: Davies / CC-BY-SA

The Port of Barcelona is a participating incentive provider in the World Ports Climate Initiative's Environmental Ship Index.

Mitigation and moving towards low carbon waterborne transport infrastructure

All sectors must play their part in climate change mitigation. The waterborne transport infrastructure sector is no exception.

Port and waterway infrastructure and operations typically account for only a very small proportion of the total greenhouse gas emissions associated with the shipment of a particular consignment. The most significant proportion by far is associated with the sea voyage, and a varying amount with connecting transport.

It is nonetheless important that the owners, operators and users of waterborne transport infrastructure take steps to minimise the emissions associated with their activities if they are to contribute to the ‘less-than-2-degrees’ pathway.

The associations represented on the the Navigating a Changing Climate Partnership recognise the importance – and the urgency – of implementing effective mitigation measures and of moving towards low carbon infrastructure.

Coalition members further acknowledge the need for innovation alongside conventional emissions-reduction measures: for example initiatives aimed at improving integration to increase energy efficiency or at creating carbon sinks in coastal areas by Working with Nature.

As with other sectors, such innovation has the potential to bring associated social, employment and economic opportunities.

Thursday, 17 March 2022 11:13

Port energy supply for green shipping corridors

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International shipping is a vital industry, facilitating global trade and transporting people around the world. At the same time, it produces greenhouse gas emissions – comparable in scale to industrialised nations such as Germany or Japan - and is a significant source of air pollution.

Urgent action is required to reduce emissions in a sustainable manner. The production, supply, and use of alternative fuels – many of which are linked to the hydrogen economy - are essential to this aim.

A new Arup, Lloyd's Register and The Resilience Shift report explores the opportunities and challenges associated with developing infrastructure for alternative fuels. Focusing on a case study of a green shipping triangle in the Atlantic Ocean, it outlines the critical role of ports as a bridge between low carbon energy infrastructure and decarbonised vessel fleets.

The report explores the infrastructure required for low carbon fuel supply, demonstrating the significant scale required even for initial projects, highlighting the need for an integrated approach to their development. The report frames how a Total Value approach to these initial projects can unlock significant co-benefits, strengthening their case for investment.

Download the report

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