Dover becomes UK’s 1st net-zero port 25 years ahead of government’s maritime target
- Port of Dover
- 40 minutes ago
- 2 min read
The Port of Dover announced in April that it has achieved its ambitious goal of net-zero carbon emissions (scope 1 and 2) for 2025, at least five years ahead of any other U.K. port target and 25 years ahead of the U.K. government’s maritime target.
Its emissions for scope 1 and 2 have fallen by 98.3 percent from 2007, with residual emissions being offset through a local regenerative-farming scheme issued under the U.K. Carbon Code of Conduct.
The announcement comes shortly after external verification of the port’s 2025 emissions was received, (against ISO 14064 and the GHG Protocol Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard).
The Short Straits counts for 8 percent of all U.K. maritime emissions, so this news is a significant step forward for the future of maritime decarbonization, according to the port.
“We are proud to be celebrating this milestone moment, which has seen our carbon emissions reduce drastically from nearly 14,000 metric tons 18 years ago,” said Doug Bannister, CEO of the Port of Dover. “Since setting our goal four years ago, people from across the port have all contributed to this incredible result. Our brilliant in-house environment team has implemented modern and forward-thinking assets, sustainable processes and progressive behaviors across all areas of the port to get here. This has then given us the tools for our customers, partners and internal stakeholders to follow. My thanks and congratulations go to our team, particularly Megan Turner, environment and sustainability manager. We are not stopping here. We want Dover to be a global leader, putting the U.K. on the global stage as home to the world’s first high-volume green-shipping corridor here on the Short Straits. This sustainability drive is an essential part of our ‘Port of Dover 2050 Masterplan,’ helping to protect the U.K.’s competitiveness and drive economic growth in an efficient and sustainable manner.”
Keir Mather, the U.K. minister of aviation, maritime and decarbonization, added, “It’s fantastic to see the Port of Dover charting the course for a cleaner maritime future, showing net-zero port operations are becoming a reality in Britain. U.K. shipping is vital to our national prosperity. That’s why we’re supporting industry with £448 million (USD$605 million) to develop clean fuels and technologies to support skilled jobs, cut carbon emissions and drive growth in our coastal communities.”
The port said its longer-term ambitions require strong partnerships with industry and government, on which the port is already working.
Its scope 1 and 2 achievements have, nevertheless, all been accomplished through its own drive and determination to champion sustainable maritime trade and travel, the port stated.
Some specific examples include:
Purchasing sustainably sourced hydrotreated vegetable oil (HVO), also known as renewable diesel, to operate machinery.
Installing 1.5 megawatts of on-site solar generation.
General energy-efficiency improvements, such as purchasing renewable electricity and using LED lighting and heating controls.
Residual emissions being offset through an approved local regenerative-farming scheme, which has produced carbon credits under the U.K. Carbon Code of Conduct.
The Port also recently achieved recertification under the EcoPorts environmental-management standard (PERS) for the fourth time, which is the only port-specific environmental-management classification.
