Port cities lead the energy transition at UN Climate Week in Yeosu

Port cities from the Asia-Pacific region convened in Yeosu — a dynamic port and industrial hub of the Republic of Korea — during UNFCCC Climate Week and Korea Green Transition International Week (K-GX).

Hosted by ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability in partnership with Pacific Environment, the 2026 World Climate Cities Forum (April 21–22) served as a powerful platform to elevate local leadership and accelerate practical solutions for the green transition across energy, industry, and port systems.

A key highlight for the port community was the session on the green transition of port cities, co-developed by ICLEI and Pacific Environment. The session showcased concrete actions and scalable models, while reinforcing the pivotal role of local governments in driving meaningful change.

Pacific Environment continues to work closely with ICLEI to advance local energy transitions — particularly in port cities. “Ports are uniquely positioned to become decentralized clean energy hubs,” said Jeongmuk Kang, Renewable Energy Manager for Pacific Environment. “With access to large-scale renewable resources such as offshore wind and floating solar, they can serve as centers for energy storage and clean fuel production, including battery storage systems, green hydrogen and green ammonia.”

Asia’s ports leading the way

Kochi is emerging as a leading example. As a major maritime hub on India’s west coast, the city is advancing a comprehensive green transition agenda. Under Maritime India Vision 2030, Cochin Port is pursuing a “Green Port” strategy—targeting 100% renewable energy through solar power, deploying shore power for vessels, and advancing toward net-zero emissions through green hydrogen and its derivatives.

Incheon is demonstrating how large-scale infrastructure can align with energy transition goals. With one of the region’s busiest airports, major ports, and existing coal power capacity, the city is scaling up offshore wind to 6GW through public-private partnerships. Incheon New Port will play a central role as a marshalling hub. This transition is critical, as coal plants in the region — currently supplying around 20% of electricity to the Seoul metropolitan area — are scheduled for phase-out by 2034.

Kitakyushu offers a compelling story of the industrial and energy transformation of port regions. Once known for heavy industry, the city has evolved into a green energy leader. Since launching the Green Energy Port Hibiki project in 2011, it has built a strong offshore wind ecosystem. In March 2026, Japan’s largest offshore wind farm (220MW) began operations in Hibikinada, now capable of supplying approximately 40% of the city’s households.

“Ports are major energy consumers — powering cranes, vehicles, and shore-side electricity for vessels — making them critical leverage points in decarbonizing shipping, one of the hardest-to-abate sectors globally,” said Kang. “The message from the session is clear: port cities are no longer just gateways for global trade; they are becoming frontline leaders in the energy transition, taking a greater role in the era of renewables.”

Local action from governments and communities is necessary

From a policy and systems perspective, Dr. Ahn Seung-Hyun of the Korea Maritime Institute emphasized a critical point: electrification alone does not guarantee decarbonization. Without a clear pathway for deploying renewable energy in port areas, emissions are simply shifted from Scope 1 to Scope 2. He estimated that with a proper portfolio of renewables and storage with a microgrid, the ports can save 18~21% of the operation cost.

He called for stronger, collective action from local governments and communities — to demand concrete plans and dedicated budgets for renewable energy deployment in and around ports. Strategic pressure on port authorities and national governments, he noted, is essential to drive meaningful change.