How is the port sector aligning with the SDGs?

World Ports Sustainability Program

The World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP) was officially launched in Antwerp on March 22, 2018. Her Majesty the Queen Mathilde, ambassador of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), opened the World Ports Sustainability Program ceremony with a speech “World Ports as Poles and Vectors of Sustainability” (EN). The speech promoted the universal sustainable development program and the SDGs.

The WPSP considers the 17 SDGs as an orientation for the sustainable development of ports.

The WPSP wil implement the SDGs along six themes or areas of interest, each of them covering a non-exhaustive list of potential topics:

• Digitalization (Relevant UN SDGs: 4, 8, 9, 11, 17)
• Infrastructure (Relevant UN SDGs: 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 14)
• Health, Safety and Security (Relevant UN SDGs: 3, 4, 8, 9, 16)
• Environmental Care (Relevant UN SDGs: 3, 4, 6, 12, 14, 15)
• Community Building (Relevant UN SDGs: 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 16)
• Climate and Energy (7, 8, 9, 12, 13)

The commitments made by the international port community are recorded in the Charter of the World Ports Sustainability Program, which now received the signature of the following founding fathers: ESPO (European Sea Ports Organisation), AIVP (the Worldwide Network of Port Cities), AAPA (American Association of Port Authorities), PIANC (the World Association for Waterborne Transport Infrastructure), and IAPH (International Association of Ports and Harbours), who together with Antwerp Port Authority took the initiative to set up the WPSP. Together these organisations represent nearly 1000 ports and port-related companies and bodies from more than 100 countries around the world.

In February 2019, The World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP) has launched a strategy to integrate the SDGs into the business strategies and governance of port authorities, to help align them with global sustainability standards.

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Case: Port of Antwerp Bruges as first mover in sustainability reporting

The Antwerp Port Authority is (together with De Maatschappij Linkerscheldeoever and Alfaport Voka) first mover in the field of sustainability reporting. A first sustainability report was published in 2012 by the port community and not by an isolated organization (the port authority).  Since then, reports have been issued biannually. The 2015 Sustainability Report was awarded Best Belgian Sustainability Report in 2016. It inspired international maritime sector to commit to the SDGs which led to the signing of the World Ports Sustainability Program charter in Antwerp in 2018. The sustainability report is part of the overarching ambition to work together as a port community towards a sustainable port. In 2016, the Port of Antwerp Sustainability Award was additionally established.

The theme of 'circular economy' is being introduced into sustainability reporting with the 2017 Sustainability Report. This was continued in the 2019 Sustainability Report and the 2021 Sustainability Trend Report. In the report, the transition to a circular economy is measured by the indicators '(direct) employment' and 'investments (material flows) and added value' [based on NACE codes 33 (repair and installation of machinery and equipment), 38 (collection, processing and disposal of waste, recovery) and 39 (remediation and other waste management) - source: NBB] in the circular economy in the Port of Antwerp. To indicate how circular economy comes about, example projects are mentioned such as e.g. NextGen District (circular hotspot) and Antwerp Recycling Hub (oursustainableport.com)