The Port of Rotterdam has published its climate transition plan, a document that establishes an integrated strategy to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions within the entire port area. The plan covers not only the direct emissions of the port authority itself—including those from its vessels, purchased energy, and staff travel—but also those generated by companies operating in the port and by maritime traffic within the jurisdiction of the Port Authority, a category that represents a substantial part of the total emissions. Although the latter are not directly under its control, the Port Authority of Rotterdam affirms its commitment to reducing them in line with Dutch climate objectives.
This first version of the climate transition plan sets goals and actions based on current policy until 2030, with a long-term perspective extending to 2050. The document consolidates the authority's initiatives aimed at reducing GHG emissions and clarifies the scope of its control and influence over emissions in the port area. The long-term goal is to achieve climate neutrality throughout the port by 2050, for which the authority plans to invest in energy infrastructure, establish international partnerships, attract sustainable businesses, and support the transition of companies and the logistics sector.
The port authority notes that "the speed of the energy transition and resources at the Port of Rotterdam depends on various factors and stakeholders," and that the cooperation of companies based in the port, energy providers, and various administrations is decisive.
Regarding specific objectives, the plan envisions a 55% reduction in emissions from companies in the port area by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, while emissions from maritime traffic in the nautical control area must decrease by 20% compared to 2019. For container traffic, decarbonization efforts revolve around deploying shore power connections at major terminals. The goal is that by 2030 at least 90% of deep-sea vessels, ferries, cruise ships, Ro-Ro vessels, and container ships calling at Rotterdam will use shore power during their stay in the port, which is estimated to result in an annual reduction of around 200,000 tons of CO₂.
The plan also includes promoting the optimization of ship calls and Just-in-Time navigation to reduce waiting times and fuel consumption, aiming to realize 20% of the identified improvement potential within two years through enhanced nautical planning. In inland container transport by waterway, the authority highlights its involvement in Nextlogic, an integrated planning platform aimed at improving the efficiency of barge operations.
In the industrial sector, the plan sets the goal that by 2030 at least 6.3 million tons of fuels produced in the port come from renewable sources, equivalent to replacing at least 20% of the fossil fuel production recorded in 2019.
The Port Authority of Rotterdam will publish in its annual report, scheduled for March 2026, the CO₂ emissions data corresponding to 2025 for its own activities, maritime traffic, and the port and industrial complex. Every April, the authority also publishes the most recent emissions data from port companies, based on figures from the Dutch Emissions Authority (NEA).