Africa Aligns on Green Ports Guidelines
African maritime leaders and partners gathered in Abuja to shape a shared vision for greener ports and cleaner shipping. The continental workshop marked an important step towards coordinated climate action, sustainable infrastructure and a unified African position in global maritime discussions.
The African Union Commission, in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and GIZ, convened a continental validation workshop in Abuja, Nigeria, bringing together representatives from port authorities, maritime administrations, regional organisations and development partners from across the continent.
The objective was to review and endorse two key documents: a handbook providing practical guidance on developing green ports in Africa, and a common African position on reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting maritime decarbonisation. Both documents aim to help African countries respond to growing environmental pressures while ensuring that ports remain competitive, efficient and resilient in the face of climate change.
The initiative reflects the increasing urgency of climate action within the global maritime sector, which is responsible for roughly 2.5 per cent of worldwide greenhouse gas emissions. African ports play a vital role in trade, economic development and regional integration, yet many face rising climate risks, ageing infrastructure and growing demands for digitalisation.
The workshop therefore focused on identifying practical steps that can help ports modernise while reducing their environmental footprint.
In his opening remarks, Jean Marie Koffi, Secretary General of Port Management Association of West and Central Africa, emphasised the importance of African unity in global maritime forums. He stressed that Africa must speak with one voice to address shared maritime challenges effectively, a message that resonated strongly throughout the workshop and was echoed by many participants.
A key goal of the workshop was to strengthen coordination among African Union member states and development partners in order to develop a shared road map for sustainable ports. Participants also explored how these efforts could support the implementation of the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter, which seeks to modernise maritime governance and improve the performance of the sector across Africa.
There was broad agreement that continued dialogue would be essential to maintain momentum. Participants recommended that the AU Commission continue organising continental consultations to harmonise initiatives, avoid duplication and accelerate the development of green ports throughout Africa.