ESPOs position on COP21

At COP21, ESPO has joined the Think Climate coalition which has been set up under the umbrella of the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure (PIANC).

Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO’s secretary general, said: “We are very pleased we can actively support the Think Climate initiative and step up efforts to both mitigate and adapt to climate change.”

She continued: “The engagement of European ports towards addressing climate change is not new. Since years already, there is, among ESPO members, a strong coalition of the willing to pro-actively work on energy reduction and climate change.”

Think Climate brings together major international associations with the object to help the sector respond to climate change. It will aim to promote the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by shifting to low carbon maritime and inland waterway transportation infrastructure.

It will also address ways to adapt maritime and waterborne infrastructure and operations to the potential impacts of climate change such as sea level rise and extreme weather conditions.

PIANC’s Think Climate coalition formally launched its 2015-2020 Navigating a Changing Climate Action Plan on 6 December 2015.

“European ports are key nodes in the global transport and supply chain and play an important role in the supply of energy. Around 40% of the commodities of European ports are sources of energy,” said Ms Ryckbost.

“With international trade volumes expected to further increase, we should develop ways to do more with less emissions. Moreover, we should reflect on how to play an active role in the transition to alternative and renewable energy,” she concluded.

Alongside this, at COP21 the European ports also called for further steps towards increasing efficiency and for ports to play an active role in changing energy landscape.

Paris were also called upon to give clear mandate to IMO to strengthen its work on reducing shipping emissions.