Digital Knowledge System

Climate change mitigation via decarbonization and restoration

Portugal

Aerial view of a busy Portuguese container port with cargo ships and cranes in Centro Region, highlighting maritime logistics and the need for green port infrastructure in Portugal

Technological development of a platform to calculate climate balance/neutrality at territorial level using a dual approach: decarbonization of human activities and blue carbon sequestration. 

Main Target

Biodiversity restoration and climate change adaptation

Transformative Impact

Technological development of a platform to calculate climate balance/neutrality at territorial level using a dual approach: decarbonization of human activities and blue carbon sequestration will have an important impact on the port activities and administration and will accelerate the transition to a carbon neutral area.

Implemented Actions

Port of Aveiro sustainability team compiling GHG inventory data from ships, rail, and cargo equipment for the 1990-2022 baseline in Portugal.

GHG Inventory

Quantified CO₂ emissions from ships, rail, heavy-duty vehicles and handling equipment to establish a 1990–2022 baseline. Quantified CO₂ emissions from well preserved, restored and impacted seagrass meadows (in collaboration with RESTORE4Cs project) enabling to quantify the added value from restoration.

Scenario modeling dashboard comparing hydrogen, methanol, electrification, and modal shift pathways to decarbonize Portuguese port logistics.

Scenario Modeling

Evaluated hydrogen, methanol and biofuels, electrification and road-to-rail shifts to identify top decarbonisation pathways. Prospective scenarios for seagrass restoration (in collaboration with RESTORE4Cs project) to analyse carbon storage capacity.

Stakeholders in Portugal's Centro Region aligning long-term decarbonization plan milestones for port operations.

Decarbonisation Plan

Set clear targets for 2025, 2030, 2040 and 2050, with structured stakeholder engagement for rollout.

Technician using an EMEP/EEA-based CO₂ emissions calculator to evaluate asset-level and supply-chain footprints for Portuguese ports.

CO₂ Emissions Calculator

Deployed an EMEP/EEA-based web tool offering three tiers of analysis—from individual assets to full supply chains—with exportable results.

Ria de Aveiro tour boat operating on B15 and E10 biofuel blends to showcase reduced maritime emissions in Portugal.

Biofuel Trials

Tested B15 (15% biodiesel) and E10 (10% bioethanol) blends in Ria de Aveiro tour boats to demonstrate real-world emission cuts and build stakeholder confidence.

Volunteers restoring Zostera noltii seagrass meadows at Ria de Aveiro, Portugal, as part of large-scale coastal restoration efforts.

Large Scale Seagrass Restoration

Seagrass (Zostera noltii) meadows restoration actions took place at Ria de Aveiro, with the collaboration of volunteers from different societal sectors.

Digital knowledge system dashboard integrating carbon calculators, scenario models, and seagrass restoration metrics for stakeholder co-design in Portugal.

Digital Knowledge System

Integrative interface connecting calculators, models and restoration metrics so that stakeholders can explore trade-offs, understand synergies, and co-design context specific actions. This approach prioritises collaboration and transparency over prescriptive decision-making.

Key Indicators

Number of usersTypes of vesselsTotal quantity of calculated carbon footprintReduction of the carbon footprintRelevance for the users (based on their feedback)