Report by UC Berkeley brings attention to the decarbonization efforts in the Port of Yokohama

In March 2026, the University of California, Berkeley, released a report that compiles analyses and recommendations on the “Port and Harbor Decarbonization Plan for the Port of Yokohama.” The report was written by Professor David Wooley, Director of the Environmental Policy Center at the Goldman School of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley, a leading expert on port and energy policy who advises both the California State Government and the U.S. Federal Government, besides conducting policy research focused on Japan’s Carbon Neutral Ports (CNP) initiative.

The “Port and Harbor Decarbonization Plan for the Port of Yokohama” won the 2025 IAPH Sustainability Award for Climate and Energy and includes plans for 121 projects such as (as highlighted in the report):

*Harbor craft electrification

*Energy efficiency, waste heat recovery

*Next generation low- and zero-carbon marine fuels

*Plans for a decarbonized electric supply, involving solar on site, offshore wind energy (the latter to be supported by battery tanker ships), and cofiring of existing fossil plans with zero carbon fuels

*Onshore power supply facilities for ships at-berth

*Decarbonized cargo handling equipment

*Blue infrastructure to preserve marine life and capture/sequester carbon

*Incentives for environmentally friendly vessel calls

Among the key findings and recommendations of the report, it is worth mentioning the remarks on the expansion of electric supply and grid infrastructure, hydrogen pipeline development, adoption of alternative marine fuels, as well as considerations regarding air pollution, GHG emissions, impact assessments, and methane emissions. Moreover, the report has emphasized the leading role of the Port of Yokohama in promoting port decarbonization worldwide and has pointed out that “by addressing a wide range of emission sources and integrating port activities with broader economic and energy systems, Yokohama’s comprehensive decarbonization plan provides a practical model that can inform similar efforts in Japan and globally.”

One of the critical areas in advancing port decarbonization is the expansion of electric supply and grid infrastructure, transitioning to green power supply options. Yasuhiro Shimbo, Director General of the Port and Harbor Bureau of the City of Yokohama, has stressed the importance to “promote wider deployment of shore power and electric vessels, while supporting industrial development and decarbonization in the Yokohama waterfront area.” The report provides relevant insights aiming at further improving and maximizing the implementation of the “Port and Harbor Decarbonization Plan for the Port of Yokohama,” while recognizing Yokohama’s active engagement with maritime sustainability, therefore representing another important step in the city’s pathway toward carbon-neutrality.

Please click here to access the full report in English: https://www.pacificenvironment.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/PE-Berkeley-Japan-CNP-Certification-Report_English-Final.pdf