Port Esbjerg in new sustainability alliance with nine other Nordic ports

Port Esbjerg has formed an alliance with nine other Nordic ports intended to accelerate the development of sustainable solutions. The ten ports have signed a joint agreement committing to making a targeted effort to support a green transition in port operations in the years ahead:

“Sustainability is a key priority across our range of activities at Port Esbjerg, but it is not something we can achieve on our own. That’s why alliances – both with our customers and our business partners – are so important. And so are alliances with other ports, because through them we will have opportunities to exchange experiences and thereby speed up innovation,” said Jul Pedersen.

Under the agreement, the ports commit to working together to reduce pollution, to develop and enhance the use of sustainable energy and to protect maritime biodiversity. The targets in the agreement are related to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Both the problem and the solution extend across borders

As hubs connecting land and sea as well as global trade and the international economy, the ports of the world play a crucial role in the efforts to achieve the 17 SDGs. The new agreement is a way for the ten ports to highlight their responsibility, and it is their commitment to cooperate in support of sustainable developments across national borders.

“At Port Esbjerg, we have already launched a number of initiatives, and I look forward to exchanging experiences and best practices with ports throughout the Nordic region. When the challenges we face are global in nature, solving them requires cross-border collaboration. Hopefully, our new initiative can help inspire new ideas,” said Jul Petersen and emphasised that he looks forward to sharing Port Esbjerg’s insights and experiences as the world’s largest originating port for wind power.

In 2019, Port Esbjerg developed a sustainability strategy that sets the direction for the port’s sustainability efforts. The purpose of the strategy is to provide efficient and sustainable port operations and to support sustainable commercial growth and infrastructure. Port Esbjerg has implemented a large number of initiatives ranging from reusing sand in connection with port expansion, transitioning from diesel-fuelled to electric vehicles and establishing onshore wind energy. See the signed declaration and read more about Port Esbjerg’s sustainability strategy here: http://portesbjerg.dk/en/about/environmental-profile.

The other ports of the alliance are Aarhus, Oslo, Helsinki, Tórshavn, Reykjavik, Gothenburg, Malmö, Stockholm and Helsingborg.

For more information, please call:
Dennis Jul Pedersen, Port Director and CEO, +45 2948 4029.