Climate KIC supported LOOP-Ports project wins prestigious sustainability award
The LOOP-Ports project, led by the Fundación Valenciaport and funded by Climate KIC, was awarded at the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH) World Ports Sustainability Awards 2020 in the “Climate and Energy” category. The awards were created to recognise sustainable port projects, and to coordinate future efforts and foster international cooperation with supply chain partners.
On 24 June, the award ceremony was held virtually and was attended by the IAPH Managing Director, Patrick Verhoeven, and by representatives of the Fundación Valenciaport and the Port Authority of Valencia (PAV), as well as the other industry leaders.
The maritime sector accounts for 90 per cent of global trade and 3.1 per cent of global GHG emissions, a figure projected to increase threefold by 2050. The LOOP-Ports project is addressing this by facilitating the transition to a circular economy in the port sector, a system whereby materials are used for as long as possible, waste is minimised and emissions are reduced.
The number of ports participating in the LOOP-Ports project is increasing and currently stands at 40. The project is also working on developing business models and assessing their replicability in other ports, as well as tailored training activities for staff working in the sector.
Federico Torres, Director of Safety, Environment and Facilities of the Port Authority of Valencia received the award on behalf of the LOOP-Ports project consortium. Torres emphasised the importance of the award, as a sign that circular economy is now recognised as a future strategy for ports worldwide.
LOOP-Ports is aligned with the Climate KIC Transformation, in time strategy, which advocates for pursuing systems change through innovation as a means to tackle the climate emergency. Climate KIC’s Deep Demonstration Net-Zero-Emission, Resilient Maritime Hubs also exemplifies this approach, by working with partners on land (ports) and on seas (shipping industry) who share an ambition to create a circular, net-zero and resilient maritime sector.
Learn more about the IAPH World Ports Sustainability Awards.