Efforts by European ports to improve the sustainability of their operations

This paper examines how European seaports aim to improve the sustainability of their operations. This examination is approached with a literature search on the sustainability targets of ports, especially in Europe, and by reviewing the webpages of the ten largest European container ports. Based on this literature search and webpage review, limiting carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gas emissions seems to be a high priority in these ports. Limitation of CO2 emissions is further investigated in the light of the Port of Helsinki’s aim to become carbon neutral by 2035. Our analysis indicates that ports have a major role to play in the maritime transport sector’s efforts to improve sustainability. However, this will require clear targets as the timeframe is long. Otherwise, efforts risk being focused on actions that merely push the problem around, like moving CO2 emissions elsewhere or increasing other pollutants when CO2 is cut. Besides concentrating on the organization and operations of ports, balancing subsidies for cleaner vessels with extra charges for more polluting ones could help motivate shipping companies to purchase new, cleaner vessels or acquire technological solutions to mitigate the harmful effects of existing ones