14 April 2026
The Port of Dover has today announced it has achieved its ambitious target of carbon net zero emissions (Scope 1 and 2) for 2025, five years ahead of any other UK port, and 25 years ahead of the UK Government’s maritime target.
Its emissions for Scope 1 and 2 have fallen by a huge 98.3% from 2007, with residual emissions being offset through a local regenerative farming scheme issued under the UK Carbon Code of Conduct. Today’s announcement comes shortly after external verification of the Port’s 2025 emissions was received, (against ISO 14064 and the GHG Protocols Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard). The Short Straits counts for eight percent of all UK maritime emissions, so this news is a significant step forward for the future of maritime decarbonisation.
Doug Bannister, CEO of the Port of Dover said:
“We are proud to be celebrating this milestone moment, which has seen our carbon emissions reduce drastically from nearly 14,000 tonnes 18 years ago. Since setting our goal four years ago, people from across the Port have all contributed to this incredible result. Our brilliant in-house environment team has implemented modern and forward-thinking assets, sustainable processes and progressive behaviours across all areas of the Port to get here. This has then given us the tools for our customers, partners and internal stakeholders to follow. My thanks and congratulations go to our team, particularly Megan Turner, environment and sustainability manager.
“We are not stopping here. We want Dover to be a global leader, putting the UK on the global stage as home to the world’s first high-volume Green Shipping Corridor here on the Short Straits. This sustainability drive is an essential part of our Port of Dover 2050 Masterplan, helping to protect the UK’s competitiveness and drive economic growth in an efficient and sustainable manner.”
The Port’s longer-term ambitions require strong partnerships with industry and government, and the Port is already working hard with both. Its Scope 1 and 2 achievements have, nevertheless, all been accomplished through its own drive and determination to champion sustainable maritime trade and travel. Some specific examples include:
– Purchasing sustainably sourced HVO (Hydrotreated vegetable oil) to operate machinery.
– Installing 1.5MW of on-site solar generation.
– General energy efficiency improvements, such as purchasing renewable electricity and using LED lighting and heating controls.
– Residual emissions being offset through an approved local regenerative farming scheme, which has produced carbon credits under the UK Carbon Code of Conduct.
The Port also recently achieved recertification under the EcoPorts environmental management standard (PERS) for the fourth time, which is the only port-specific environmental management classification.
Peter Wright, Head of Cruise at the Port of Dover said:
“As a major homeporting and transit destination with passenger numbers growing, delivering our operations sustainably is vital to the continuing success of the Dover cruise business.
“The cruise industry is at the forefront of efforts to build sustainability in the wider maritime sector, so I’m proud that in achieving this milestone, we are setting an example to the Port community and showcasing our strong partnerships with cruise lines by making a difference together.
“Beyond the Port’s net zero achievement, we have implemented a range of other environmental initiatives, notably our longstanding Safety and Environment Awareness Award (SEA award) which in its ninth year, has championed improvements in waste management and CO2 emissions by cruise lines. This week, we are at Seatrade Cruise Global in Miami to talk more about our latest news and exciting future plans to industry experts across the world.
“We will continue to move forward with our masterplan to 2050, and through this, empower our cruise lines to help us lead a sustainable pathway for success in the future.”