The EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) now includes emissions from ships over 5,000 tons in EU ports, creating a financial incentive to reduce their carbon footprint. Key strategies for lowering these emissions include reducing ship speed, optimizing navigation, adopting clean propulsion technologies, using alternative fuels, and implementing comprehensive decarbonization strategies.

This transition requires structural changes across the entire ecosystem—including port cities—that must develop new industrial sectors. This also involves optimizing logistics flows and rethinking port spaces to accommodate the evolving needs of the maritime industry while enhancing biodiversity and integrating harmoniously with surrounding urban environments.

Urban-port ecosystem stakeholders can rely on recognized environmental standards, such as Green Marine International, which helps measure decarbonization efforts and reassures investors about project sustainability.