Climate Change Data

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change
• Environmental Sustainability
• Transport and Logistics

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• High CO2 emissions from transport to and from the Port of Rotterdam (around 24.8 million tonnes in 2015/2016), mainly from maritime transport.
• Significant changes in transport volumes and structure due to decarbonization (decline in bulk, increase in containerized transport).

Mitigation Strategies

• Development of decarbonization scenarios for maritime and hinterland transport by 2050.
• Recommendations for supporting climate mitigation actions in freight transport and preparing for future changes in the sector.
• Exploration of technological routes for converting transport systems to net-zero carbon (efficiency gains, fuel switching, electrification).

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Transition Risks

• Phasing out of fossil fuels
• Changes in transport volumes and structure

Opportunities

• Development of new roles and businesses in line with deep decarbonization

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced CO2 emissions by 0.5 MT through steam exchange by 2030 (projected)
• Reduced CO2 emissions by 3.6 MT through CCUS by 2030 (projected)
• Reduced CO2 emissions by 2.1-3 MT through residual heat supply to greenhouses and cities by 2030 (projected)
• Reduced CO2 emissions by 2-2.5 MT through electrification by 2030 (projected)

Social Achievements

• Not disclosed

Governance Achievements

• Not disclosed

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• High energy costs compared to other regions
• Complex and expensive operational process changes required for CO2 reduction
• Need for long-term agreements between government and companies
• Need for energy infrastructure
• Need for financial resources to address unprofitable peaks
• Need for sufficient green power and molecules
• Need to integrate measures into existing maintenance/investment cycles
• Space limitations for some technologies
• International competitiveness and carbon leakage risk
• Societal acceptance of projects

Mitigation Strategies

• Three-step approach to CO2 reduction (efficiency, new energy system, raw material renewal)
• Development of enabling infrastructure (steam, heat, CO2, hydrogen networks)
• Combined strategy of blue and green hydrogen
• Market creation for hydrogen
• Investment in renewable energy and critical infrastructure
• Changes to CO2 accounting rules
• Changes to waste and chemical legislation
• Programme-based coordination and cooperation between network companies and government
• Integrated approach to energy system
• Investment in highly-educated staff
• Acceleration of innovation programs and pilots
• Joint communication and area-based approach

Supply Chain Management

Supplier Audits: Not disclosed

Responsible Procurement

• Not disclosed

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Not disclosed

Transition Risks

• Carbon leakage
• Insufficient ETS prices
• Mismatch between supply and demand of green energy

Opportunities

• Development of new energy and raw material systems
• Growth of green hydrogen market
• Development of circular economy

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Null

Certifications: Null

Third-party Assurance: Not disclosed

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy)
• Goal 13 (Climate action)

Initiatives contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and transitioning to renewable energy sources

Sustainable Products & Innovation

• Green methanol
• Biobased chemicals
• Synthetic fuels

Awards & Recognition

• Not disclosed

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Climate Change

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced scope 1 and 2 emissions by 67% between 2016 and 2022 through biofuel for vessels, electric vehicle fleet, and green electricity.

Social Achievements

• Implemented new policies for employee commuting and business travel in 2018 and 2021, promoting digital meetings, public transport, and sustainable aviation fuels.
• Provided incentives for bicycle and public transport use for employees (higher mileage allowance, cycling points, annual public transport pass).

Governance Achievements

• Participation in national and regional mobility networks (Anders Reizen and Klimaatalliantie Duurzame Mobiliteit), and international initiatives like the Green Deal on Maritime and Inland Shipping and Ports, World Ports Climate Action Program (WPCAP), and Getting to Zero Coalition.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Reducing scope 3 emissions, which comprise more than 40% of total emissions and are not directly controlled by the Port Authority.
• Achieving zero emissions for all vessels by 2025, given operational use constraints.
• Reducing emissions from civil engineering projects, which fluctuate greatly year to year.
• Reducing emissions from commercial real estate, which involves complex issues with multi- and single-tenant sites.

Mitigation Strategies

• Setting ambitious reduction targets for all scope 3 emissions.
• Investing in studies on the technical feasibility of zero-emission vessels.
• Working with the market and other clients to switch to zero-emission dredging vessels by 2028/29.
• Developing more standards for civil engineering projects to avoid reinventing the wheel.
• Taking advantage of system replacements and redevelopments to reduce emissions from commercial real estate.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• Working with the market and other clients to switch to zero-emission dredging vessels.

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)

Certifications: Gold Standard

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Sustainability of the port
• Efficient and reliable logistics chains
• Entrepreneurial and decisive organisation

Environmental Achievements

• Porthos project for carbon capture and storage received €102 million EU grant
• Initiatives to reduce carbon emissions and make logistics chains more efficient
• Reduced carbon emissions by about 10 kilotonnes through Infra Innovation program

Social Achievements

• Maintained port operations during COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring safety of workforce and port community
• Repatriated 4,000 cruise ship crew members
• Staff survey showed 48.2% of employees are committed and passionate

Governance Achievements

• Introduced seven 'Life Saving Rules' focusing on strengthening safety awareness
• Implemented a hybrid work approach (40% work from home)

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• COVID-19 pandemic impacted cargo throughput (-6.9%)
• Nitrogen problem delaying permit procedures and investments
• Economic impact of COVID-19 on various sectors

Mitigation Strategies

• Organized Corona Port Consultations to address pandemic-related issues
• Extended payment terms for clients facing difficulties
• Launched 'Starter Motor' initiative with twelve projects to boost economy and sustainability
• Working with partners on solutions to address the nitrogen challenge

Supply Chain Management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Opportunities

• Energy transition
• Development of sustainable activities

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 3
• SDG 7
• SDG 8
• SDG 9
• SDG 13
• SDG 5
• SDG 17

The three priorities of the corporate strategy can be linked directly to the principal SDGs that have been selected and the secondary goals.

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Safety
• Accessibility
• Digitalisation
• Sustainability
• Innovation
• Climate & Energy
• People & Work
• Safe & Healthy Environment

Environmental Achievements

• Carbon emissions in the port have fallen by 27% since 2016.
• Commissioning of the hybrid incident response vessel RPA10, complying with the strictest exhaust emission requirements.
• Shell to build a biofuel plant with a capacity of 820,000 tonnes a year for sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) and renewable diesel.

Social Achievements

• Opening of the Leuve Pavilion, connecting the city and the port.
• Staff survey showed that 49.1% of employees are committed and passionate (increase from 48.2%).
• Initiatives to improve diversity and inclusiveness, targeting male-female ratio, age diversity, and recruitment from diverse backgrounds.

Governance Achievements

• No signs of employee involvement in corruption or fraud.
• Implementation of an e-learning module and courses on ethical conduct in the onboarding program.
• Application of procurement guidelines and OECD guidelines for enhancing integrity in public procurement.

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Delays in investments due to adjustments in scope, global logistical problems, and nitrogen emission regulations in the Netherlands.
• Need for more latitude in nitrogen emission regulations to implement energy transition projects.
• Drugs-related crime at the port.

Mitigation Strategies

• Proactive consultations with stakeholders to manage the surge in vessel arrivals after the Suez Canal blockage.
• Working with enforcement agencies to combat subversive activities associated with narcotics.
• Collaboration with the government for clear legislation and regulations for the energy transition.

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• OECD guideline ‘Principles for Enhancing Integrity in Public Procurement’

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: UNGC, OECD Guidelines

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• Goal 7 (Affordable and clean energy)
• Goal 13 (Climate action)

Contribution to SDGs through energy transition and sustainable business initiatives.

Environmental Metrics

ESG Focus Areas

• Safety and security
• Connecting city and port
• International port cooperation
• Energy transition
• Healthy living environment
• Smart partner for our clients
• Efficient logistics and sustainable accessibility
• Future-resilient organisation

Environmental Achievements

• Reduced carbon footprint by 47% between 2019 and 2022 (own operations)
• Science-Based Targets initiative (SBTi) validated emission reduction objectives for 2030

Social Achievements

• Signed the Diversity in Business Charter
• Launched the ‘Virtual Fence’ project to monitor subversive crime more stringently
• Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) of +24
• Increased number of jobs linked to the Rotterdam-Rhine Estuary seaport region to 183,004 in 2021

Governance Achievements

• Implemented a new Diversity & Inclusion plan
• Improved safety performance with LTIFR of 0.43

Climate Goals & Targets

Environmental Challenges

• Major incident involving an inland vessel with a fatal casualty
• Increase in carbon emissions in 2021 (23.5 Mtonnes) due to coal-fired power plants
• Subversive crime (narcotics-related)
• Nitrogen emission limitations affecting energy transition projects
• Tight labor market
• Impact of the war in Ukraine on cargo flows

Mitigation Strategies

• Working with partners on concrete projects to make industry and goods transport more sustainable
• Collaboration with corporate sector, industry associations, City of Rotterdam, and investigative authorities to counter subversive crime
• Investing in sustainable solutions (Porthos, hydrogen projects)
• Actively seeking solutions with national authorities, Province of South Holland, City of Rotterdam, and Deltalinqs to address nitrogen emission challenges
• Initiatives to improve diversity and inclusiveness
• Long-term contracts with clients with discussions about sustainability
• Discounts on port fees for environmentally friendly vessels
• Shore-power infrastructure for inland vessels
• Encouraging modal shift
• Developing Port Emissions Service Platform (HESP)

Supply Chain Management

Responsible Procurement

• VCA (Safety, Health and Environmental Checklist for Contractors)
• Environmental Cost Indicator and CO2 value for projects
• Plan of action for sustainable construction site
• ISO 14001 for environmental management

Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities

Physical Risks

• Sea level rise
• Salt intrusion
• Extreme rainfall
• Low river levels
• Extreme wind
• Extreme weather

Transition Risks

• Changes in legislation and regulations; consumer demand; impact of high gas prices on competitiveness of sectors

Opportunities

• Development of energy infrastructure for hydrogen, heat, and CO2; expansion of position as a production location for sustainable activities

Reporting Standards

Frameworks Used: GRI, TCFD

Certifications: ISO 14064

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• SDG 3
• SDG 7
• SDG 8
• SDG 9
• SDG 13

The Port of Rotterdam Authority's activities contribute to these SDGs through initiatives related to safety, energy transition, employment, infrastructure, and climate action.