Reducing the ecological footprint
We advocate for the sustainability of logistics and transport and strengthen our commitment to mitigating climate change. We decarbonise our own activities and activate strategies to accompany improvements in the environment.
Port infrastructure has an impact on climate change and the environment related to its activity and the emissions it generates. Maritime transport is currently responsible for 3% of global CO2 emissions. In addition, port activity bundles other transport and activities that add to the impact, such as land transport connections by truck, internal logistics activities, etc.
Therefore, the port of the future must be geared towards the challenges of climate protection and decarbonisation of its activities, both in terms of infrastructure and the various transport systems that interact in the logistics sector.
The ships that are flags of convenience tend to dump a lot more pollution in the waters, tend to have much worse working conditions, tend to have much worse health and safety issues. And often, they also tend to be ships that are in worse shape. […] There needs to be both at the national level, but especially at the municipal level, a much harder line taken around regulation of flags of convenience and blacklisting of some flags or blacklisting of some shipowners in order for there to be a better enforcement mechanism.
Laleh Khalili
Professor of International Politics at Queen Mary University of London
The measures that need to be implemented as part of decarbonisation are threefold: technological measures, such as innovations in materials or design conditions; the adoption of regulations to reduce the size or speed of ships and their impact on the port environment; and energy-related measures, to switch to green energy sources. In addition, international regulations are key to ensure that targets are set and met.
There's been a lot of citizen interaction and education in developing the [San Francisco Port] master plan goals and policies. […] The port, our tenants, and our development partners are accountable to those goals and policies. And to the extent that the citizens have had so much involvement, and influence on the plan, it also holds them accountable.
Diane Oshima
Director of Planning & Environment, Port Of San Francisco (2017-2021)
The European ports ecosystem has already recognised this challenge. One of its goals is to decarbonise 90% of its ports by 2030 and proposes a tax on maritime transport depending on its emissions. However, we recognise that the port of the future must also aim to reduce emissions in its surroundings. For example, by developing a positive energy infrastructure that produces green km0 energy at a scale sufficient to supply the surrounding area. Another improvement would be to promote intermodal rail and maritime transport to consolidate pan-European green logistics corridors.
The ports of Stockholm will be carbon free by 2030 and emission free by 2040, completely. But we can do more. This is a mission that we can embark on together with the other ports of the Baltics. The real game is to look beyond your borders. And if you can have that. For instance, if you collaborate with the shipping industry for electrification and for a sustainable fleet [of your own], you can have a fully electrified fleet in the Baltics, quite a lot sooner.
Fredrik Lindstål
Chairman of the Board of Stockholms Hamn AB – Ports of Stockholm
Key Actions
- Promote the projects and infrastructure necessary for the energy transition in the ports, including the electrification of the ports and the generation of their own renewable energy.
- Ensure intermodal connectivity of ports with a clear commitment to rail as the most sustainable mode of transport.
- Identify new needs and infrastructures resulting from the application of new energy sources, also in terms of services for the logistics sector such as power lines or hydrogen tanks for trucks.
Experts
Fredrik Lindstål
Chairman of the Board of Stockholms Hamn AB – Ports of Stockholm
Diane Oshima
Director of Planning & Environment, Port Of San Francisco (2017-2021)
Laleh Khalili
Professor of International Politics at Queen Mary University of London