Ports are under growing pressure to adapt as cleaner shipping, alternative fuels and new regulations reshape global maritime trade.The maritime sector accounts for about 2% of global energy consumption, with almost all ship fuel still coming from fossil sources. Port operations produce a smaller share of emissions but play a critical role in enabling cleaner shipping.
For UN Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the transition is not only an environmental priority. It also brings economic, health and social benefits – helping ports secure a more competitive and sustainable future while strengthening their role as engines of global trade.
Training future-ready port communities
UNCTAD’s TrainForTrade programme has introduced a new online course on Energy Transition in Ports (ETP). The course covers methodologies, technologies, case studies and best practices to help port communities develop lower-emission operations.
The first edition of the ETP course, delivered in Spanish between April and June 2026, brought together 544 participants from 31 countries, with women representing 47% of the cohort.
“This training shows that sustainability should not be seen only as an environmental obligation, but as a core element of planning, governance and decision-making in ports,” said Sandra Asanza, a participant from Ecuador.
She said the course helped participants focus on practical steps, from measuring emissions to identifying energy-efficiency opportunities and improving coordination across port communities.
From training to action
UNCTAD will build on the course with a workshop in Argentina in October 2026, where selected participants will present concrete solutions and share best practices for advancing the energy transition in their ports.
The initiative is part of TrainForTrade’s longstanding Port Management Programme, which has trained more than 13,500 port professionals across 183 countries and territories since 1996.
The programme supports port communities in improving efficiency, boosting trade flows, enhancing resilience and advancing sustainable development.
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