The European Commission has published an analysis of ports’ role in maritime decarbonization, highlighting estimated investment needs of USD 1 trillion to USD 1.4 trillion to meet the International Maritime Organization’s (IMO) target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The analysis emphasizes the need to combine alternative fuel infrastructure with protection against climate and nature risks, workforce development and collaboration across port ecosystems. About 87% of the estimated investment would go toward infrastructure on land, with the remaining 13% directed to ships. Ports will need facilities to produce, store and supply alternative fuels, alongside capacity to build and retrofit vessels. Global vessel retrofit capacity was estimated at roughly 465 vessels annually in 2025, compared with projected peak demand exceeding 1,000 conversions a year. The transition also requires skills to handle new fuels safely aboard ships and at terminals. These investments coincide with growing physical risks. In Europe, port operational challenges linked to climate change rose from 41% in 2018 to 69% in 2025. The analysis advocates integrating emissions reduction and nature protection into investment and operational decisions, including through natural protective infrastructure and circular water and waste systems. Institutional fragmentation can delay or duplicate investment and leave resilience measures incomplete, making coordination among ports, energy suppliers and other businesses necessary. Asia faces a particularly consequential investment cycle, with ports in developing Asian economies handling 60% of global container port traffic in 2024.

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