European ports highlight “the impressive work of Valenciaport with the environment”

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) congratulates Valenciaport on its sixth PERS environmental management certification, a European recognition of excellence in sustainability and respect for the environment

The European Sea Ports Organisation (ESPO) has congratulated Valenciaport on the renewal of the Port Environment Review System (PERS), the environmental management standard for EcoPorts, an "impressive" milestone which represents the sixth PERS certification for Valencia.

Isabelle Ryckbost, ESPO’s Secretary General said "the Port of Valencia is a longstanding member of the EcoPorts community, having joined as long ago as 2003. Valencia’s continuous engagement with environmental issues - and perseverance in identifying and addressing new issues when they arise - is testament to their hard work and ambition and can serve as example to other ports”.

As background, PERS certification requires the port to put forward a range of measures to demonstrate effective environmental management. These measures range from identification and monitoring of the most pertinent environmental challenges to enhancing communication with the local community and increasing transparency through creating and publishing an environmental report.

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“I am very happy with the commitment and dedication showed by the Port of Valencia when it comes to environmental management and involvement in the Ecoports community. Its continuous engagement with environmental issues is coupled by a willingness to identify and address new issues when they arise. The PERS certification is evidence of their ambition to tackle the challenge posed by climate change. So I congratulate the port once more and I look forward to having them as key members of our EcoPorts community for many years to come’ commented the EcoPorts coordinator, Valter Selén.

The number of PERS Certified ports currently stands at 23, around a fifth of the 116 ports in the Ecoports Network. Compliance with the PERS standard is independently assessed by Lloyd’s Register, with the certificate having validity of two years.

Valenciaport is part of the "EcoPorts" network of ports which is the main environmental initiative of the European port sector and whose objective is to improve environmental management and create awareness of environmental protection through cooperation and the exchange of knowledge between the different ports.

Valenciaport has a firm commitment to 2030, zero emissions, in order to be two decades ahead of the targets for decarbonisation and the reduction of greenhouse gases that Spain, Europe and international organisations have projected for 2050.  The actions and investments planned by the APV have been developed for many years now under the shared guideline of the port community to make growth and sustainability compatible.