Nature Positive Role of the Ports Sector

Considering the impacts and dependencies the port sector has on nature, a transition towards a nature- positive future is critical. Acknowledging the existing efforts businesses in the port sector have already made through extensive analysis and consultations, this report has identified five priority actions (see Figure 7) and calls for wider implementation to accelerate this transition: –Sensitively plan port areas to minimize impacts on nature –Enhance the use of clean energy, sustainable materials, and advanced equipment and operating systems –Improve prevention and mitigation capacity against pollution and invasive species –Promote a circular economy and catalyse cross-sector collaboration in regulation, finance and innovation –Actively protect and restore nature Given that the port sector’s impacts and dependencies are reflected to varying degrees across the entire value chain, these priority actions call for businesses to actively engage with stakeholders, including government departments, engineering and construction firms, shipping companies, transport companies and industry peers to jointly facilitate the nature-positive transition of the value chain. A joint effort from stakeholders across the entire value chain is needed to incorporate the just transition and efforts to socially equitable outcomes. While some of these actions have already been adopted by leading businesses, this report calls for accelerated efforts in more countries and regions at a greater scale. Five priority actions for the port sector FIGURE 7 Five priority actions for the port sector2 341 5 Enhance the use of clean energy, sustainable materials and advanced equipment and operating systemsSensitively plan port areas to minimize impacts on nature Improve prevention and mitigation capacity against pollution and invasive speciesPromote a circular economy and catalyse cross-sector collaboration in regulation, finance and innovationActively protect and restore nature While some of these actions have already been adopted by leading businesses, this report calls for accelerated efforts in more countries and regions at a greater scale. Nature Positive: Role of the Port Sector 24