The Toronto City Council (Canada) adopted the ambitious “TransformTO NetZero” Strategy, which aims to reduce green-house gas emissions community-wide by 2040. The Strategy identifies actions and targets to be achieved by 2030 in key sectors, including buildings, transportation and waste in order to achieve the 65% emission reduction target for the intermediary check-in. The city aims to increase access to low carbon transportation options and decarbonizing the construction process of buildings. Port and City visions for a more sustainable future will be discussed by the AIVP and its members in the upcoming webinar on the 15^th of June and during our annual conference, situated this year in Venice, from the 16^th to 18^th of November.

Over the course of 36 hours, northern Italy’s Emilia-Romagna region received half of their annual rainfall, leading to rivers overflowing and causing devastating impacts on several port-cities including Ravenna due to flooding and landslides. Displacing over 36 000 people and leading to the tragic death of 14 people, the storm followed another one two weeks prior. Experts and politicians agree that this extreme weather event and the resulting floods and landslides are climate change induced, highlighting the threat that climate change poses to port cities globally. The AIVP highlights the importance of climate change adaptation measures and the use of nature-based solutions in its Agenda 2030 and guide of good practices. A flood package of 2 billion euros will be made available by the Italian government.

In four of the country’s major ports, India will be equipping tugs with low-carbon propulsion. This is a technological challenge, with the need to master the use of methanol or hydrogen for these service vessels. But the financial obstacle is also significant, hence the government’s strong commitment to fund at least 30% of the necessary investment. The aim of this policy, officially entitled the “Green Tug Transition Program”, is to achieve at least 50% new-generation tugs by 2030.

In the “Golfe-1” commune in the district of Lomé (Togo), a project has been launched to recover waste and produce artworks such as sculptures, paintings and musical instruments. The Agence Française de Développement (AFD) is providing financial support for this initiative. The young people are guided by professionals and collect the waste before putting it to artistic use. Local sports clubs and associations are actively involved in the project. This part of Lomé interfaces directly with the port and is home to more logistics and industrial facilities.