Why the Port of Dover holds the key to sustainable trade growth
At COP29, the Prime Minister said that he wants the UK to reclaim its global leadership on tackling climate change and decarbonisation. Meanwhile, as the Governor of the Bank of England warns that Brexit has weighed heavy on the economy, the government is also looking to reset the UK’s relationship with the EU, including on trade, as part of its mission to deliver economic growth. Is it possible to achieve both? Britain’s busiest international ro-ro port might just have the answer.
Port of Dover is the closest port to mainland Europe, giving it an unrivalled gateway position that enables up to 130 ferry crossings per day, which in turn helps to facilitate one third of the UK’s trade in goods with the EU each year – previously estimated to be worth £144bn. Dover’s geographic advantage will not change, which is why the Port handled enough freight and tourist traffic this summer to stretch from Dover to Dubai.
Despite Brexit and the additional complexities of transporting people and goods to and from Europe, families and businesses from all corners of the nation have continued to choose Dover because of its incredible service frequency and the shortest sailing times between the UK and France.
Dover has adapted to life outside the EU, but with the right policies we could close the gap towards smart, seamless and sustainable travel and trade, knowing that the traffic does – and will – keep on choosing this critical international route.
We sometimes say: get Dover right, and everyone benefits.
The Port recently launched Port of Dover 2050: Empower Exchange (PoD2050), a long-term plan which if fully delivered has the power to unlock the maximum potential of the Port in pursuit of its vision of better connections – travel, trade and visitor experiences – in the national interest. Delivery of PoD2050 could facilitate a 20 per cent increase in the value of trade in goods handled to £173bn (at 2023 prices).
“We sometimes say: get Dover right, and everyone benefits”
As an island nation, the UK is reliant on the international movement of people and goods and maritime plays a huge part in that. 95 per cent of the UK’s international trade – imports and exports – is carried through UK ports, which also handles 25 million international passenger journeys each year (9 million of which are through Dover alone).
With investment, the Port is ideally positioned to lead the maritime decarbonisation effort in the UK. One key aspect of PoD2050 is the electrification of our port infrastructure and that of the Dover-Calais/Dunkirk route. As the UK’s closest port to mainland Europe, decarbonising Dover’s cross-Channel operations is critical to the UK’s net-zero ambitions, with the opportunity to create a UK-Europe premier high-volume green shipping corridor.
With almost 60 per cent of ferry journeys between the UK and its single biggest trading partner being via Dover, the Short Straits shipping corridor represents not only the highest volume route but also the biggest single opportunity for removing substantial marine emissions. According to the Climate Change Committee, 8 per cent of UK international marine emissions are from the Port of Dover’s zone of operation, with ferries accounting for 75 per cent of them.
In 2021 at Glasgow’s COP26, the concept of green shipping corridors was first suggested, and the Clydebank Declaration was signed. Three years on and the UK and France are yet to become partner countries in such a deal. With the new government recentlyannouncing a more ambitious UK climate target at COP29 to reduce the country’s emissions by 81 per cent by 2035 against 1990 levels, now is the time to take an ambitious approach to its delivery. This will require a firm political and financial commitment between the UK and France to establishing green shipping corridors between the two nations, particularly via Dover.
“We could close the gap so much more towards smart, seamless and sustainable travel and trade”
With 2024 marking the 120th anniversary of the Entente Cordiale, a commitment to establishing the world’s first high volume green shipping corridor between both countries at their nearest ports would be a fitting tribute.
We can’t do it alone, but working in partnership with government and industry, as we have done in developing PoD2050, will drive trade growth and decarbonisation. The prize for both trade and climate change is without parallel.
Now that really would make a big statement of intent – or entente!
Join us on our mission to unleash Dover’s full potential for the benefit of the nation. Visit portofdover2050.commonplace.is
PoliticsHome Newsletters
Get the inside track on what MPs and Peers are talking about. Sign up to The House's morning email for the latest insight and reaction from Parliamentarians, policy-makers and organisations.
