Areas of interest

The World Ports Sustainability Program considers the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals as a single and indivisible orientation for the sustainable development of ports. The World Ports Sustainability Program wil implement the UN SDGs along five themes, each of them covering a non-exhaustive list of potential topics.

Climate and Energy

Ports subscribe to the Paris Climate Goal which aims to keep global warming well below 2°C. Building on the output of the World Ports Climate Initiative, port community actors can collaborate in refining and developing tools to facilitate reduction of CO2 emissions from shipping, port and landside operations. In addition, they can take initiatives to enable energy transition, improve air quality and stimulate circular economy.

Port projectsPartner projects

Potential topics

energy efficiency, circular economy, bio-based economy, renewable energy, CO2 and infrastructure, clean ship incentives, deployment of alternative transport fuels

Relevant UN SDGs

Affordable and clean energy
Decent work and economic growth
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Sustainable cities and communities
Responsible consumption and production
Climate action

Community outreach and port-city dialogue

Port community actors can develop synergies to solve collective active problems in and outside the port area, such as hinterland bottlenecks, training and education, IT, marketing and promotion as well as innovation and internationalisation. Similarly, port community actors strive for dialogue with urban stakeholders to offer innovative cross-over services that contribute to the attractiveness and resilience of port cities.

Port projectsPartner projects

Potential topics

stakeholder management, sustainability reporting, community outreach, city-port relations, employment, education, spatial planning, nature in ports, port culture, externalities of port operations

Relevant UN SDGs

No poverty
Zero hunger
quality education
clean water and sanitation
Affordable and clean energy
Decent work and economic growth
Sustainable cities and communities
Responsible consumption and production
Climate action
Life on land
Partnerships for the goals

Governance and Ethics

Principles of good corporate governance are increasingly being introduced to port authorities, regardless of their ownership. Furthermore, all port community actors should be encouraged to uphold high standards of ethics and transparency.

Port projectsPartner projects

Potential topics

transparency, integrity, equal rights and opportunities, fair trade, anti-corruption, responsible supply chains

Relevant UN SDGs

gender equality
Reduced Inequalities
Sustainable cities and communities
Responsible consumption and production
Peace, justice and strong institutions
Partnerships for the goals

Resilient Infrastructure

Port and port-related infrastructure aim at anticipating demands of maritime transport and landside logistics, at being resilient to changes in climate and weather conditions and at developing in harmony with local communities, nature and heritage.

Port projectsPartner projects

Potential topics

port planning and design, public-private partnerships, financing, digitization and automation, climate resilience, working with nature, ecosystems management

Relevant UN SDGs

quality education
clean water and sanitation
Affordable and clean energy
Decent work and economic growth
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Climate action
Life on land

Safety and Security

In ports a mixture of regulatory duties and responsibilities exist related to ensuring safety and security of ship and cargo operations within the port as well as the enforcement of applicable laws and regulations in these fields. With the advance of global terrorism and digitalisation, security problems have obtained an entirely new dimension.

Port projectsPartner projects

Potential topics

cyber-security, protection of critical infrastructure, ISPS, nautical safety, labor safety, responsible care

Relevant UN SDGs

Decent work and economic growth
Industry, innovation and infrastructure
Sustainable cities and communities
Responsible consumption and production
Peace, justice and strong institutions