Ports and Environmental Transition: Building a Dedicated Standard
On March 4, 2025, Green Marine Europe reached a major milestone by officially launching a dedicated environmental standard for ports. This initiative follows a test phase conducted with several pilot ports in 2024 to assess the applicability of the Green Marine (North America) framework to the European context.
Why a standard dedicated to ports?
Ports play a strategic role in the environmental transition of maritime transport. They are key enablers in reducing the sector’s environmental footprint through:
- Air quality improvements and emissions reduction
- Energy management and the development of renewable energy sources
- Biodiversity protection in port areas
- Circular economy practices and sustainable waste management
Given these challenges, Green Marine Europe is developing a rigorous and tailored framework that will allow European ports to evaluate and continuously improve their environmental performance.
Kick-off meeting: structuring the approach
This kick-off meeting brought together a diverse group of port stakeholders, experts, and committed actors to:
- Share insights from the pilot phase
- Define the key environmental priorities of the standard
- Structure a collective roadmap and establish the implementation timeline
An ambitious challenge, a collective commitment
Through this initiative, Green Marine Europe reaffirms its mission: to drive environmental excellence in the maritime sector. The objective is clear: to have the first ports certified under GME by 2026.
Thank you to all the stakeholders involved in this co-construction process. Your expertise and commitment will be key to making this program a success.
Are you a European port stakeholder interested in joining our certification program? Contact us at info@greenmarineeurope.org.