The importance of protecting the natural environment and resources for human existence and development is considered a fundamental approach towards sustainability. There are several port-related issues with sustainability implications, such as energy savings, air quality, emission reduction, natural resources conservation, and waste handling which are already being considered by the industry. A number of initiatives to address these are now in place, including sustainable ports, eco-ports, and green ports. Invariably, the goal is to achieve or drive towards sustainability, starting with the implementation of appropriate planning, which has been considered as a key step and tool for port development.
