Practice

GreenPort Award System (GPAS)

GovernancePlanning and DevelopmentOperations

Aspect contributions

How this practice contributes to the green port aspects.

Aspect	Role	Justification
Certification and Benchmarking	Core	GPAS is a regionally tailored recognition benchmark for APEC ports, scored by the GPAS Evaluation Committee.
Risk Management	Secondary	Secondary indicators reference recognized ISO and IMO standards.
Climate Adaptation	Secondary	Indicators address climate risk management at the port.

Summary

The APEC Port Services Network (APSN) GreenPort Award System (GPAS) is a voluntary, port-level recognition program for ports in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) region, designed to encourage sustainable development and share leading practice among APEC ports.

GPAS was formally launched in 2016 and is administered by the APSN Secretariat with awards approved by the APSN Council (APEC, 2017; APEC Port Services Network, 2024). Since 2016, more than 50 ports across 10 APEC economies have received GPAS recognition, including ports from the Philippines, the People's Republic of China, Viet Nam, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Peru, Hong Kong, China and Taipei,China (APEC Port Services Network, 2024).

GPAS applies an indicator-based evaluation, assessed by the GPAS Evaluation Committee, using a weighted scoring system. The indicator framework has three primary indicator groups: commitment and willingness; action and implementation; and efficiency and effectiveness of green initiatives. Each primary indicator is supported by secondary indicators that are defined by a list of reference standards, covering green port awareness and promotion, clean energy (including shore power), energy saving, air pollution, noise, waste and green management. Ports are required to demonstrate good progress toward becoming a green port over the last two or more years, ensuring that GPAS recognizes evidenced performance rather than intent.

GPAS contributes to the Certification schemes core aspect by providing a regionally tailored benchmark that responds to the policy, economic and operational context of APEC ports. It contributes to secondary aspects such as Risk oversight and standards (through the use of recognized ISO and IMO references), Climate adaptation and port resilience and Social licence and community engagement (through indicators on stakeholder engagement and community outcomes).

Details

GPAS is a voluntary recognition program for APEC region ports, administered by the APEC Port Services Network (APSN) Secretariat. The scheme uses a three-pillar indicator framework covering commitment and willingness, action and implementation, and efficiency and effectiveness of green initiatives. Secondary indicators are defined by a list of reference standards and cover green port awareness and promotion, clean energy, energy saving, air pollution, noise, waste and green management (APEC Port Services Network, 2023).

GPAS addresses the core aspect of Certification schemes by providing a regionally tailored benchmark for APEC ports and contributes to Risk oversight and standards through its use of recognized ISO and IMO references. Secondary contributions include Climate adaptation and port resilience, Low emission technology, Resource use and waste management, Biosecurity and biodiversity management, Social licence and community engagement, and Workforce standards and engagement.

GPAS is explicitly an APEC regional program, open to ports in the 21 APEC economies across the Pacific Rim. Recipients include Huanghua Port in the People's Republic of China, Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in Hong Kong, China, the Port of Hualien in Taipei,China, and Salaverry Terminal Internacional in Peru (APEC Port Services Network, 2023).

Named ASEAN recipients of GPAS recognition include Jurong Port (Singapore, first awarded 2016), PSA Singapore, Tan Cang Cat Lai Terminal (Viet Nam), Hutchison Ports Thailand (Thailand, 2022), the Port of Cagayan de Oro (Philippines, awarded three times including 2024), the Port of Surigao (Philippines, 2023), the Port of General Santos (Philippines, 2024), Manila International Container Terminal, Manila South Harbor and Batangas Port (APEC Port Services Network, 2023; PortCalls Asia, 2022; BusinessWorld, 2024). Philippine ports have been particularly active under the Philippine Ports Authority's Green Port Program, which is based on the GPAS.

Enabling factors

Policy Environment

GPAS is governed by the APSN Council and relies on member economy policy support; national green port policies, such as the Philippine Ports Authority Green Port Program, create the demand and incentive for participation.

Improved Technologies & Standards

Secondary indicators are defined by a list of reference standards; ports benefit from APSN knowledge sharing on emerging technologies such as shore power, electric equipment and waste management.

Sustainable Procurement

Ports that pursue GPAS typically extend environmental requirements through supplier and concessionaire contracts, in line with ISO 20400 guidance.

Partnerships & Collaboration

GPAS assessment and peer learning draws on industry forums, sector networking groups, regional environmental management bodies and APEC economy authorities; the program explicitly rewards collaboration and stakeholder engagement.

Port type applicability

All 15

port types applicable

Case studies

Global

Huanghua Port

Huanghua Port, Hebei Province, People's Republic of China. · Huanghua Port received the 2021 APSN Green Port Award (China Shenhua Energy, 2021).

Southeast Asia

Port of Surigao, Philippines

Port of Surigao, Surigao City, Surigao del Norte, Philippines. · Port of Surigao received the APSN GPAS Award in 2023 (Philippine Information Agency, 2024).

UN Sustainable Development Goals

ASEAN Taxonomy V4

Not directly applicable (supporting evidence only)

The GreenPort Award System (GPAS) is an award and benchmarking system, not an economic activity with its own TSC under the ASEAN Taxonomy V4.

The Foundation Framework (FF) guiding questions for each Environmental Objective (EO) ask whether the Activity complies with the relevant environmental laws and, where relevant, whether third party certification or verification of alignment with that EO is available (ASEAN Taxonomy Board, 2025, Sections 4.3.2 to 4.3.5). Do No Significant Harm (DNSH) is an Essential Criterion under both the FF and the Plus Standard, with the Plus Standard criteria set out in Annex 2 (Section 3.2.1).

The port activities covered by GPAS indicators, such as cargo handling and storage, need to be assessed separately against Annex 1, for example Activity 50[001] Infrastructure for water transportation, which has Tier 1 (Green) criteria for shore power, zero direct emission port operations and trans-shipment infrastructure. GPAS assessment records can provide evidence for the FF and DNSH questions, but do not by themselves establish Green or Amber classification.

The certification body's or benchmark provider's own services may align as an enabling activity under 702[001] Management consultancy for environmental-related services, which covers risk and impact assessment, reporting, assurance services and the development of rating tools, where they enable a focus sector activity such as 50[001] Infrastructure for water transportation to be consistent with recognized standards. This applies to the provider, not to the port holding the certificate or rating (ASEAN Taxonomy Board, 2025).