Dirtiest EU Ports ‘Comparable to the Biggest Coal Plants’

11th February 2022

Emissions from the supply chains of the EU’s three biggest ports — Rotterdam, Antwerp and Hamburg — are higher than those of an average coal-fired power plant, according to an analysis. Green group Transport & Environment says investments in clean port infrastructure remain low, with few credible plans to provide clean fuel to highly polluting ships Credit: Lloyds List-twitter

Emissions from supply-chains of Europe’s biggest ports are comparable with those of coal-fired power plants, according to a study by Transport & Environment.

The green group analysed carbon dioxide emissions of European Union ports by calculating emissions by ship type and allocating them to ports by how much cargo related to that ship type was handled. It sought to include emissions from port activities such as loading, unloading and refuelling.

It found the top 10 most polluting ports were: Rotterdam (13.7m tonnes); Antwerp (7.4m); Hamburg (4.7m); Algeciras (3.3m); Barcelona (2.8m); Piraeus (2.7m); Valencia (2.7m); Bremerhaven (2.3m); Marseille (2.3m); Amsterdam (2.1m).

Rotterdam’s associated supply chain, or Scope 3, emissions put it on par with the Weisweiler coal power plant in Germany, Europe’s fifth-biggest industrial polluter, according to the research.

T&E sustainable shipping officer Jacob Armstrong said ports’ climate impact was enormous.

More from LloydsList on these polluting ships and port related activity.

Published in Ports & Shipping

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Dirtiest EU ports

About The Author

Jehan Ashmore

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Jehan Ashmore is a marine correspondent, researcher and photographer, specialising in Irish ports, shipping and the ferry sector serving the UK and directly to mainland Europe. Jehan also occasionally writes a column, 'Maritime' Dalkey for the (Dalkey Community Council Newsletter) in addition to contributing to UK marine periodicals.

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