European Ports' Environmental Index Drops to 8.51 in ESPO's 2026 Report
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The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) presented its 2026 Environmental Report, compiled using data from 73 ports in 17 European countries, in which the environmental management index fell to 8.51 out of 10, down from the record 8.67 recorded the previous year. The document, presented on October 8 during the GreenPort Congress in Portsmouth, notes that the sector's next step is to prove that environmental measures actually work, rather than simply continuing to add new systems.
Environmental management remains firmly established
Despite the drop in the index, environmental management remains firmly embedded in ports: 97% have a defined environmental policy, 99% have set improvement targets, and 95% have a dedicated monitoring programme in place. 77% hold at least one certified Environmental Management System, and the disclosure of environmental information reached an all-time high of 85%. However, only 77% have quantifiable environmental targets, and dedicated environmental training fell to 60%.
Climate change remains the top priority
For the fifth consecutive year, climate change remains the leading environmental concern for European ports, followed by air quality and energy efficiency. 85% of port authorities already have their own greenhouse gas reduction targets, 79% are reinforcing the resilience of their existing infrastructure, and 89% are incorporating climate adaptation criteria into new projects. 70% of ports reported climate-related operational challenges, the highest level recorded since this indicator began being measured.
Shore power and grid constraints
On the electrification front, 60% of the ports surveyed offer Onshore Power Supply (OPS) for berthed vessels, although 54% of those ports report insufficient or unavailable grid infrastructure, which represents a clear bottleneck to the expansion of this technology. Meanwhile, 93% of ports have electric charging points for cars and trucks. The use of differentiated port dues based on vessels' environmental performance also grew, reaching 70% of ports, the highest share recorded to date.
Alternative fuels moving forward
The report also notes progress in alternative fuels: liquefied natural gas (LNG) bunkering is now available at 52% of participating ports, while biofuel projects rose from 28% to 41% between 2025 and 2026. Ammonia projects grew to 20% and synthetic fuel projects to 18%, while hydrogen-related activity remained stable at 42%. According to Tim Verhoeven, ESPO's Senior Policy Advisor, this edition of the report includes policy recommendations and key findings for the first time, with particular attention paid to the port-city relationship.
