Consolidating Port Decarbonisation Implementation: Concept, Pathways, Barriers, Solutions, and Opportunities

Abstract

Industries worldwide are facing the urgent need to decarbonise in alignment with the goal of the Paris Agreement (PA), which aims to limit global warming. However, progress towards achieving this extremely important goal has been sluggish, and the wider maritime transport sector (ports included) is no exception. Despite practical barriers faced by ports, solutions have not yet been developed. Similarly, the definition or concept of decarbonisation, including opportunities arising for the port sector, remains underdeveloped and lacks support from academic research. Specifically, there are a lack of conceptual studies that yield clear and usable results and evidence. To address this gap and shed light on port decarbonisation as a contemporary issue (the study aim), this study has conducted a literature review consulting different academic and grey studies. The results of this study define the concept of port decarbonisation, highlight the barriers that hinder progress in this area, and establish solutions to guide ports in implementing decarbonisation measures and mitigating barriers. Building upon these findings, this study not only contributes to scholarly discussions surrounding port decarbonisation but also offers valuable implications for port managers, policy makers, practitioners, and other pertinent authorities. By properly understanding the concept of decarbonisation and its barriers and expanding knowledge in relation to it and its practical implementation, including the eye-opening opportunities, port stakeholders can actively contribute to the objective of the Paris Agreement and the broader pursuit of sustainability.