News & resources

Ports are vital to global trade, moving nearly 90% of the world’s goods, but automation is reshaping dockworker roles and raising concerns about job security. Recent strikes by dockworkers highlight the urgent need to balance technological advancements with protecting livelihoods and advancing climate goals. Read Allyson Browne’s blog post on the World Economic Forum to explore how ports can lead a just transition toward a sustainable, worker-centered future.

As shipping sector leaders meet to discuss how to hit ambitious decarbonisation commitments, a new report by a leading marine NGO warns that all targets are set to be missed unless transformative change is embraced across the whole industry. The One Planet Shipping report, published by Brussels-based Seas At Risk, reveals that drastic changes to the whole shipping ecosystem are a must if the United Nations affiliated International Maritime Organization (IMO) is to hit its decarbonisation goals of 30% by 2030, 80% by 2040 and complete decarbonisation before 2050. The time for transformative change is now.

The IOA focuses on reducing ecological impacts from ship scrubber discharges in Latin America, particularly in Baja California. Working with partners, it promotes sustainable maritime transport and decarbonization. As a member of the Getting to Zero Coalition, the IOA advocates for green marine corridors and industry competitiveness through sustainability.

The World Economic Forum's First Movers Coalition is an initiative to help decarbonize “hard-to-abate” industrial sectors, including shipping. Hear from Forum's Senior Writer Victoria Masterson on industry decarbonization solutions including electric ferries and wind-powered boats.

An October 2024 report released by the Zero Emission Maritime Buyers Alliance (ZEMBA) and Lloyd’s Register Maritime Decarbonisation finds e-fuel-powered container shipping services could be available for commercial deployment in 2027, while identifying near term mismatch between supply of certain e-fuels and e-fuel-capable vessels.

CATF's interactive map identifies stakeholders and regions that have responded to the U.S. Department of Energy funding notice for its Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs program.

The maritime battery forum ship register contains data from many different ship segments from small ferries to cruise ships and from tugboats to container vessels, including a snapshot of the market. The statistics contain information on many different aspects such as the ship type, types of batteries installed, battery sizes, suppliers, integrators, shipyards, area of operations, type of propulsion configuration, and more.

A public-private platform between energy, maritime, shipping and finance communities to de-risk investments and transform the energy-maritime supply chain. The clean energy marine hubs initiative is a first-of-it-kind partnership between the private sector and governments across the energy-maritime value chain – the International Chamber of Shipping (ICS), the International Association of Ports & Harbors (IAPH) and the Clean Energy Ministerial (CEM), led by governments of Brazil, Canada, Greece, Norway, Panama, Uruguay and the UAE. The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Global Centre for Maritime Decarbonisation (GCMD) support the initiative.

This study is the first nationwide port emissions screening for at-berth vessels. The study estimates how much pollution is emitted by at-berth vessels and then identifies U.S. ports where investments in shore power could meaningfully improve air quality in nearby communities. Of the 129 ports considered in this analysis, 43 high-priority ports and port groups overlapped with lower-income census tracts and areas that do not meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards.

NREL is leveraging decades of clean-energy research to conquer technical barriers to decarbonization across the transportation sector—reshaping existing mobility systems for a more sustainable, resilient, and equitable climate future. NREL's Transportation Decarbonization Research spans aviation, marine, rail and vehicles including heavy- and medium-duty vehicles.

The Port's Environmental Action Plan lays out the high priority actions the Port of Tacoma and Northwest Seaport Alliance will take in the Tacoma harbor over the next several years to meet the environmental goals as outlined in the Port’s Strategic Plan. Focus areas of the plan include clean air and climate, water quality, cleanup and remediation, habitat restoration and resiliency. The Port's Air & Climate work is a regional collaboration under the Northwest Ports Clean Air Strategy.

SAM is a free application for techno-economic analysis of energy technologies including solar PV, battery storage, concentrated solar power, industrial process heat, wind power, marine energy wave and tidal systems, fuel cells and more. The model helps assess the technical, economic and financial feasibility of these projects.

NREL's PVWatts calculator estimates the energy production of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) energy systems throughout the world. It allows homeowners, small building owners, installers and manufacturers to easily develop estimates of the performance of potential PV installations.

NREL develops data sets, maps, models, tools, and software for the analysis and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. Research areas include energy analysis, grid modernization, hydrogen and fuel cells, integrated energy solutions, solar, wind, transportation and mobility.

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) evaluated drayage electrification at the Port of New York and New Jersey (PoNYNJ), focusing on three operators. The report provides electrification analysis, operational data, performance requirements for battery-electric trucks (BETs), and infrastructure needs. It also outlines strategies and challenges for expanding BETs to meet PoNYNJ's 2050 net-zero carbon emissions goal.

To make sure that the port of Amsterdam is ready for clean shipping, they have researched the spatial planning of bunkering alternative fuels, together with DNV and AVIV. The conclusion is that the currently defined safety distances for the bunkering of LNG are sufficient for similar bunkering operations for nearly all new fuels, with the exception of ammonia.

A guest blog on The Economist by World Ocean Summit speaker Allyson Browne, co-founder and chief executive of HACC, on ports as catalysts for climate action.

PIER71, a Singapore-based innovation hub, aims to establish a vibrant maritime ecosystem by attracting talent, fostering knowledge exchange, and accelerating ventures. Each year, PIER71 hosts the Smart Port Challenge, inviting start-ups with breakthrough solutions to tackle key challenges in the maritime industry.

NextGen District at the Port of Antwerp-Bruges is an innovation hub focused on circular economy initiatives. It supports projects in green hydrogen, recycling, and sustainable water usage. Located near Europe's largest petrochemical cluster, it fosters collaboration between new and existing companies to drive sustainable industrial innovation.

Bilbao PortLab, the innovation hub of Bilbao Port, fosters an open ecosystem to transition the port community towards a more intelligent, agile, and sustainable future. Since 2019, it has facilitated 28 projects through a collaborative process involving 854 agents, aiming to enhance the port's competitiveness and sustainability.

The Port of Seattle is renovating the Ship Supply building into the Maritime Innovation Center (MInC), a sustainable hub for the maritime industry. MInC will invest in emerging companies and promote equitable economic development, focusing on career growth for women and people of color.

Washington Maritime Blue's innovation cluster model activates Industry, Research, Capital, Government and Community to drive innovation, overcome barriers, access new market opportunities, and attract talent and capital.

Innofuse Blue brings together global best practices from the blue economy and entrepreneur supporting innovation programs, connecting with the blue business community providing opportunities to scale.

Platform Zero is creating a collaborative climate tech ecosystem with lighthouse projects, venture opportunities, and campus initiatives in Rotterdam.

Braid Theory is a venture advisory and accelerator based at the Port of Los Angeles. They weave together entrepreneurs, industry influencers, and corporate partners to accelerate adoption of transformative technology, drive market growth, and create profitable collaborations.

Based in the Port of Los Angeles, AltaSea is a public-private ocean institute that convenes and nurtures leaders and organizations in science, business and education. Focus areas include regenerative aquaculture, renewable energy and blue technology.

This report offers a comprehensive framework for ports to enhance resilience against disruptions. It provides tools and methods for risk identification, assessment, and management, emphasizing a step-by-step approach to prepare, respond, and recover from various risks, including natural, economic, and cyber threats. The guidebook also includes port case studies and good practices to inform resilience-building strategies globally.

UNCTAD's Resilience maritime logistics provides a suite of resources, tools, case studies and best practices for resilient shipping, ports, and their hinterland connections.

FLOW is a public-private partnership that provides an integrated view of U.S. supply chain conditions, helping companies anticipate changes and mitigate delays with anonymized, aggregated data from importers and logistics participants.

The Future Fuels and Technology Project (FFT Project) is a partnership project between the Government of the Republic of Korea and IMO, aiming to support the reduction of GHG emissions from international shipping by promoting the uptake of future fuels and technology.

Updated in 2017, the CAAP is a comprehensive strategy for accelerating progress toward a zero-emissions future while protecting and strengthening the ports’ competitive position in the global economy. Since 2005, port-related air pollution emissions in San Pedro Bay have dropped 90% for diesel particulate matter, 63% for nitrogen oxides, and 97% for sulfur oxides. Targets for reducing greenhouse gases from port-related sources were introduced as part of the 2017 CAAP. The document calls for the ports to reduce GHGs 40% below 1990 levels by 2030 and 80% below 1990 levels by 2050. The CAAP was originally approved in 2006.

The Northwest ports clean air strategy (NPCAS) is a collaboration between The Northwest Seaport Alliance and the ports of Seattle, Tacoma, and Vancouver, British Columbia, to voluntarily reduce seaport-related emissions that contribute to air pollution in the shared Puget Sound-Georgia Basin Airshed as well as climate change. The NWPCAS seeks to reduce emissions from key operational sectors including: ocean-going vessels, drayage trucks, cargo-handling equipment, rail, harbor vessels, and port facilities.

In January 2024, the Panama Canal announced that Deputy Administrator Ilya Espino de Marotta will now also serve as the Canal’s first Chief Sustainability Officer (CSO). In this new role, Espino de Marotta will drive the creation of a more robust sustainability strategy, building on the Canal’s long-standing environmental leadership and developing business opportunities. As CSO, Espino de Marotta will spearhead the development of a comprehensive sustainability strategy focused on decarbonization, adaptation, and transition.

Working with selected developing countries around the world, including Small Island Developing States (SIDS) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and partnering with maritime-related international associations, other UN organizations, and the industry, this global project is supporting the reduction of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions from shipping, in line with the levels of ambition set out in the Initial IMO GHG Strategy.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) is inviting expressions of interest from developing countries for support to create National Action Plans (NAPs) to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from shipping. This technical support, provided through the GreenVoyage2050 programme, offers a unique opportunity for eligible developing countries to develop tailored NAPs that address their specific maritime challenges.

The incorporation of nature-based solutions (NbS) into projects which help protect port infrastructure from coastal risk have had an uptick in interest. This presentation explores NbS and looks at the Department of Defense and other project examples of processes that can benefit Ports.

The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey Clean Vessel Incentive (CVI) Program provides financial incentives to encourage operators, charters, and agents of ocean-going vessels calling at Port Authority marine terminals to make voluntary engine, fuel, and technology enhancements. The enhancements reduce emissions beyond the regulatory environmental standards set by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The roadmap outlines strategies to achieve zero or near-zero emission fuels (ZEFs) in international shipping, focusing on accelerating supply chain investments to meet 2050 net-zero goals. Washington's ports and stakeholders are advancing these efforts. It also evaluates low-carbon fuels, including e-fuels and biofuels, based on emissions, cost, and scalability.

The 2024 report on contrail management explores the climate impact of contrails and mitigation strategies. It highlights the need for advanced forecasting, better meteorological data, and collaborative flight trials to reduce contrail-induced warming. Recommendations include investing in research and coordinating with air traffic management.

The report reviews international decarbonization policies and recommends actions for various stakeholders, including the US and California governments, port authorities, and NGOs. It finds that, through cooperation, technology, and diverse policy pathways, the seaborne cargo industry can significantly reduce GHG emissions by 2040.

California, a leader in stringent GHG standards, is assessing the readiness of low- and zero-GHG fuels for ocean-going vessels. The report explores the feasibility of hydrogen, methanol, ammonia, biofuels, and electrification, highlighting challenges, technological readiness, and the decarbonization potential of these alternative fuels.

The 2024 federal funding handbook for the marine transportation system provides a comprehensive list of federal grants from 26 departments, categorized into seven areas: Infrastructure, Economic Development, Energy, Resilience, Safety and Security, Environment and Sustainability, and Research and Development. It includes grant details, links, and contact information for administration.

The Digital Coast NOAA provides U.S. communities with data on coastal issues, including elevation, climate hazards, and marine habitats. It offers tools like flood mappers and sea level rise viewers, and training through interactive models, case studies, and guides to help interpret data and use tools effectively.

The Resilience Assessment Resource Matrix is organized into distinct categories selected to help guide marine transportation system users quickly identify the most applicable methods, tools, and resources based on the selected scale, scope and objectives of the assessment.

The Marine Transportation Systems Resilience Guide (MTS Guide), created by CISA and USACE-ERDC, provides a framework for assessing and enhancing maritime infrastructure resilience. It integrates methodologies, tools, and case studies to help stakeholders plan for and improve port resilience against disruptions.

The U.S. climate mapping resilience adaptation toolkit helps communities address climate hazards through a framework that includes understanding exposure, assessing risk, exploring options, planning, and taking action. It features a list of community resilience stories to illustrate practical applications of the framework.

Hyster-Yale Materials Handling, Inc. promotes energy-efficient forklift and container handling technology. The resource covers compliance, green initiatives, safety stats, customer demands, and electrification incentives, plus a tool to calculate emissions reduction from fleet conversion to clean power.

This roadmap guides inland ports vulnerable to extreme water levels through a five-step resilience strategy: engaging with stakeholders, analyzing resilience challenges, identifying strategies, developing support measures, and implementing strategies. It aims to enhance inland port community resilience to flooding and drought impacts.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Climate Action Plan for Resilience updates previous plans with five priorities: integrating resilience into grants and loans, enhancing project planning, ensuring facility and asset resilience, securing climate-ready services, and improving climate education and research. It also addresses resilience in DOT facilities, supply chains, and equity.

The Biden-Harris administration's national historic clean energy investment report and framework outlines six core climate resilience objectives: integrating climate resilience into planning, enhancing built environment resilience, mobilizing capital for climate solutions, providing community resources, managing lands and waters sustainably, and strengthening community safety and equity.

UNCTAD urges global collaboration for a "just and equitable transition" in maritime transport decarbonization. With emissions up 20% over the past decade, the report calls for industry assessments of low-carbon technologies, a global decarbonization framework, cross-sector collaboration, and increased investment in clean fuel research.

This paper introduces a dynamic simulation model for port energy hub optimization, integrating renewable sources and alternative fuels. Applied to the Port of Naples, the model aims for high renewable energy self-sufficiency and reduced emissions. It demonstrates up to 84% on-site renewable energy use and enhanced port energy independence.

This study analyzes 25 maritime fuel mix projections, focusing on hydrogen-based fuels and biofuels. It tracks the demand and supply of ammonia, liquefied biomethane, and methanol, finding shipping could lead in ammonia use. The report highlights policy as crucial for driving change.

This report from Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping provides a technical, environmental and economic analysis of converting tanker vessels to green fuels. It offers guidance for shipowners on preparing and converting LR2 and VLCC tankers, detailing five preparation levels and addressing fuel tank retrofits and range vs. cargo capacity trade-offs.

The report from Mærsk Mc-Kinney Møller Center for Zero Carbon Shipping analyzes how US and EU climate policies impact investments in alternative fuels for maritime decarbonization. It shows that combined US-EU policies can make alternative fuels more cost-efficient than conventional fossil fuels for transatlantic voyages.

The "Scalable Zero Emission Fuels (SZEF)" report outlines five key levers to achieve SZEF making up 5% of international shipping fuels by 2030: Technology & Supply, Finance, Policy, Demand, and Civil Society. It evaluates climate action progress, identifies gaps, and provides guidance on necessary actions for each lever.

The fifth edition of "Mapping of Zero-Emission Pilots and Demonstration Projects" tracks 104 new projects, showing a shift from 24% to 39% in fuel production projects, notably hydrogen and methanol. The report highlights project stages, funding challenges, geographic disparities, and will aid in crafting future policy for an equitable transition.

The handbook, created with seven guiding ports, Washington Maritime Blue, and Sandia National Laboratories, focuses on evaluating and planning port electrification projects. It covers benefits and challenges such as economic feasibility, resilience impacts and environmental justice.

The five World Ports Climate Action Program's actions are organized into working groups focusing on efficiency, policy, power2ship, fuels, and cargo handling equipment. Ports collaborate within these groups to share knowledge, develop projects, and create policies. Leading ports include Los Angeles, Rotterdam, Valencia and Vancouver.

The World Ports Sustainability Program Portfolio aims to be the most coherent and up-to-date global database of port related projects on sustainable development. Through the WPSP portfolio, ports worldwide and WPSP partner organisations, raise awareness on their ongoing work on sustainability, share their experiences and provide inspiration.

In this article for Bunkerspot, Allyson Browne of the High Ambition Climate Collective examines the ongoing efforts leading the charge to decarbonize U.S. ports and maritime infrastructure.

In this article written for Bunkerspot, High Ambition Climate Collective’s CEO Allyson Browne urges US ports to seize the opportunities presented by the EPA Clean Ports Program for bold climate action, equity and sustainability.

The High Ambition Climate Collective (HACC) for Ports held its first convening and workshop in San Francisco on March 25-26. This barrier-breaking event brought together a diverse group of policy leaders, industry experts and innovators from across the port and maritime sector to collaborate on proactive approaches and actionable strategies for future climate action at ports.

Our co-founder and CEO, Allyson Browne, was featured as a guest on the ship.energy podcast's 100th episode to talk about High Ambition Climate Collective, port climate action, shore power and electrification with Mark Williams, with shout outs to industry-leading projects and policies at the Port of Long Beach, Port of Seattle, PortMiami, Port of San Diego and more!

“Green Shipping & Sustainable Finance: Stronger Together” discusses challenges European banks face in financing the shipping sector's transition to net zero, including financing retrofit technologies, aligning with green finance goals, covering costs for green vessels, and ensuring availability of clean fuels.

This report includes a summary table of ports with carbon neutrality and shore power ambitions and target dates.

The EPA Community-Port Collaboration Toolkit helps communities and ports build collaboration skills and understand stakeholder priorities. It includes the Ports Primer for Communities, Community Action Roadmap, and Environmental Justice Primer for Ports, with training materials. Developed with diverse stakeholders, it aims to enhance community engagement and address environmental justice concerns.

The Decarbonizing the Maritime Shipping Industry toolkit provides a suite of strategies and approaches to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from maritime shipping (moving cargo along inland waterways, coastal, or sea routes).

Momentum, supported by the USDOT, connects global partners to experts and best practices in transportation. It offers technical assistance, capacity building and knowledge transfer through in-person and virtual support, plus digital resources and toolkits to enhance transportation systems development and operation.

Shipping is a major culprit in the fossil-fueled climate crisis and must be part of global commitments to phase out fossil fuels. Ridding ships of fossil fuels (in the tank and on board) would reduce pollution equal to 260+ coal plants/year, prevent deadly environmental disasters and improve public health in port communities. Including shipping in the fossil fuel phase out would also give the UN International Maritime Organization a stronger mandate to transition ships to zero-emission in an equitable way. Learn more from Shaama Sandooyea, a marine biologist and a climate and ocean activist from Mauritius.

This paper evaluates the scalability of port-to-port green shipping corridors and proposes a collaborative model to enhance their development. It highlights the potential for nations, regions, and ports to form international blocs of ambitious ports, leveraging economic power and public-private investments to scale infrastructure, foster innovation, and accelerate zero-emission (ZE) ship deployment. The paper addresses concerns about decarbonization, such as cargo diversion and increased costs, and argues that regional alliances can prevent first movers from losing business, enabling ports of all sizes to reduce emissions effectively.

The United Nations International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) revised greenhouse gas reduction strategy puts shipping on course to exceed its current share of the world’s 1.5 °C carbon budget by 2032.