change from 41 to 47%. The same trend is observed with the percentage of ports that
are taking steps to strengthen the resilience of their existing infrastructure to adapt
themselves to climate change (62%). Finally, most of the ports are taking climate
change into consideration for the development of their future infrastructure projects
(75%). This is clear evidence that climate change and making infrastructure climateproof is becoming a high priority. The latter are requirements of EcoPorts’ PERS,
ISO 14001 and EMAS.
Moreover, the 2019 EcoPorts Report presents the current issues faced by the port
sector as top 10 environmental priorities of the European ports’ managing bodies in
2019. These data are important as they identify the high-priority environmental
issues in which port managing bodies are engaged and sets the framework for
guidance and initiatives to be taken by ESPO.
The total set of Top 10 environmental priorities has been the same during 2017,
2018 and 2019. However, their relative positions have varied, with climate change
rising from position ten to position three for instance. Air quality and energy
consumption have occupied the first and second position since 2013 and 2016,
respectively. These two environmental issues are of high relevance for European
ports.
Air quality has been the first priority due to new legislation introduced over time.
At the same time, air quality has increasingly been a priority for citizens of port cities
and urban areas in general. Air quality has become a key determinant of public
acceptance of port, and since more than 90% of European ports are urban ports, port
managing bodies have this concern high on their agendas. In addition, EU regulations aiming to address air pollution include the implementation of the Sulphur
Directive, the new National Emission Ceiling Directive, the introduction of the
global 0.5% sulphur cap on marine fuels in 2020 and the IMO NOx Tier III
requirements for vessels built from 1-1-2021 onwards operating in the North and
the Baltic Seas (NECAs). Energy consumption has come second and has also
remained in the same position. Improvement of efficiency, reduction of energy
costs and the carbon footprint and climate change explain this stable position.
Climate change appeared in the Top 10 list for the first time in 2017 in the last
position, and it has risen up to the third position in 2019. This increasing trend shows
that complying with climate regulations, reducing carbon emissions and making
infrastructure climate-proof are high priorities for European ports. In particular,
many ports host industrial clusters in the port area and aim to organise their transition
to a low carbon economy and become carbon neutral. Ship waste follows in sixth
position and garbage/port waste in the seventh position. The implementation of the
new EU Directive on Port Reception Facilities for ship waste will be among the
priorities of ports for the next few years. This priority is also related to waste being
the most monitored indicator for more than 5 years (see Table 11.3 above). Moreover, it evinces ports’ readiness to contribute to addressing marine litter which is a
great concern for local communities and civil society. Port development (land
related) and water quality have decreased in priority, while dredging operations
has remained in the same position. Dredging operations along with port development
(land related) have been in the Top 10 rankings since 1996.
190
V. Alexandropoulou et al.
are taking steps to strengthen the resilience of their existing infrastructure to adapt
themselves to climate change (62%). Finally, most of the ports are taking climate
change into consideration for the development of their future infrastructure projects
(75%). This is clear evidence that climate change and making infrastructure climateproof is becoming a high priority. The latter are requirements of EcoPorts’ PERS,
ISO 14001 and EMAS.
Moreover, the 2019 EcoPorts Report presents the current issues faced by the port
sector as top 10 environmental priorities of the European ports’ managing bodies in
2019. These data are important as they identify the high-priority environmental
issues in which port managing bodies are engaged and sets the framework for
guidance and initiatives to be taken by ESPO.
The total set of Top 10 environmental priorities has been the same during 2017,
2018 and 2019. However, their relative positions have varied, with climate change
rising from position ten to position three for instance. Air quality and energy
consumption have occupied the first and second position since 2013 and 2016,
respectively. These two environmental issues are of high relevance for European
ports.
Air quality has been the first priority due to new legislation introduced over time.
At the same time, air quality has increasingly been a priority for citizens of port cities
and urban areas in general. Air quality has become a key determinant of public
acceptance of port, and since more than 90% of European ports are urban ports, port
managing bodies have this concern high on their agendas. In addition, EU regulations aiming to address air pollution include the implementation of the Sulphur
Directive, the new National Emission Ceiling Directive, the introduction of the
global 0.5% sulphur cap on marine fuels in 2020 and the IMO NOx Tier III
requirements for vessels built from 1-1-2021 onwards operating in the North and
the Baltic Seas (NECAs). Energy consumption has come second and has also
remained in the same position. Improvement of efficiency, reduction of energy
costs and the carbon footprint and climate change explain this stable position.
Climate change appeared in the Top 10 list for the first time in 2017 in the last
position, and it has risen up to the third position in 2019. This increasing trend shows
that complying with climate regulations, reducing carbon emissions and making
infrastructure climate-proof are high priorities for European ports. In particular,
many ports host industrial clusters in the port area and aim to organise their transition
to a low carbon economy and become carbon neutral. Ship waste follows in sixth
position and garbage/port waste in the seventh position. The implementation of the
new EU Directive on Port Reception Facilities for ship waste will be among the
priorities of ports for the next few years. This priority is also related to waste being
the most monitored indicator for more than 5 years (see Table 11.3 above). Moreover, it evinces ports’ readiness to contribute to addressing marine litter which is a
great concern for local communities and civil society. Port development (land
related) and water quality have decreased in priority, while dredging operations
has remained in the same position. Dredging operations along with port development
(land related) have been in the Top 10 rankings since 1996.
190
V. Alexandropoulou et al.