Ports hold firm on environmental investments

As part of the latest IAPH-WPSP Port Economic Impact Barometer report, ports were asked about the status of their planned investments in environmental sustainability, given the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic. The report found 45% of ports that responded are executing investments as planned.

IAPH managing director, Patrick Verhoeven, commented: “The results on this particular question echo the views taken by some of the ports of our COVID19 Task Force, namely that a long-term integrated approach towards port environmental sustainability is the best way of combating this current crisis as well as future ones. Joined-up initiatives on climate change mitigation, energy transition, and data collaboration in combination with a coherent business continuity plan will reduce risks to ports’ businesses and enhance resilience.”

Green issues still important

Just under a third (32%) of ports planned to execute green projects with a slight delay, while 15% of investment projects have incurred major delays. 4% were being accelerated, 2% receiving additional funding, and at 2%, only a very small percentage of environmental sustainability projects have been shelved.