Page 42 - European Energy Innovation - autumn 2017 publication

42 Autumn 2017 European Energy Innovation
THE EU PORT POLICY AND GREEN PORTS
The EU port policy
and green ports1
By Rémi Mayet (pictured), Deputy Head of the Port and Inland Navigation Unit, European Commission
SUMMARY
The ports of the trans-European
network for transport are essential
to Europe’s growth and jobs. Both
the amount of cargo handled in
European ports and the size of
ships are expected to continue to
increase significantly. At the same
time the Paris Agreement on climate
sent a clear signal and shipping,
although not formally covered by
the agreement, must also contribute
to the decarbonisation efforts.
Moreover Europe has taken the
lead to reduce the other pollutant
emissions from maritime transport
with the introduction of regional
Emission Control Areas and a
proactive stance in the International for Mobility and Transport also created
Maritime Organisation (IMO). The Agreement on climate sent a clear
European ports are inevitably to be signal. All sectors including shipping,
part of these changes, all the more although not formally covered by the
that climate change and energy agreement, must contribute to the
transition are full of challenges and decarbonisation efforts. Europe has
opportunities for them: infrastructure also taken the lead to reduce the other
must be made climate-proof, the oil pollutant emissions from maritime
and coal traffic declines and new transport with the introduction of
business opportunities emerge with regional Emission Control Areas and
the development of off-shore marine a proactive stance in the International
renewable energies. The EU port Maritime Organisation (IMO). For
policy contribute to address these the first time in October last year,
challenges through the newly adopted IMO adopted a global cap of
Port Services Regulation, modern state sulphur content of marine fuels and
aid control, support to multimodal agreed to adopt an initial strategy
and alternative fuel infrastructure and for the reduction of greenhouse gas
actions to accompany the digitalisation emissions from ships in 2018. The
of transport. The Directorate General European ports are inevitably to be
part of these changes, all the more
that climate change and energy
a European Ports Forum in transition are full of challenges and
July 2017. opportunities for them: infrastructure
must be made climate-proof and
As 75 pct. of all goods to the oil and coal traffic will slowly
or from the EU are carried decline while considerable new
by ship, the ports of the business opportunities emerge with
trans-European network the development of off-shore marine
for transport are essential renewable energies and the circular
to Europe’s growth. Every economy.
additional one million
tonnes of cargo handled The EU port policy seeks to address
in a port create an average all these challenges and to turn in
of 300 new jobs at local a win-win strategy the apparent
level. The amount of cargo trade-off between economy, jobs
handled in European and environment by integrating
ports and the size of ships ports in the internal market, tackling
are expected to continue the bottlenecks in port hinterlands
to increase significantly and pursuing ambitious EU
as shown by the last decarbonisation and air quality goals,
series of order from large ports being often in close proximity
European companies to to dense urban areas. Technologies
build container vessels that reduce the use of oil improve
of 22,000 Twenty-foot economic efficiency of ships, while
Equivalent Units – twice reducing the sectors' environmental
the maximum size of 10 footprint. A strong focus on green
year ago. innovation in the maritime/port sectors
will address public health and citizens'
At the same time the Paris
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