Greenhouse gas emissions in the Netherlands saw a significant increase of 7% during the first quarter of 2025, according to preliminary data from Statistics Netherlands (CBS) and the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM). This rise is attributed to increased generation from fossil fuels and higher CO2 emissions from aviation and maritime transport. The uptick has intensified scrutiny on the maritime sector’s environmental impact, especially as new EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) regulations require ports to monitor and report their emissions increasingly. As a result, demand for EmissionInsider, PortXchange’s real-time emissions intelligence platform, has surged.
The platform supports ports in their urgent need to monitor and manage their carbon footprint, particularly for Scope 3 emissions arising from vessel operations, terminal activities, and hinterland logistics. Since the start of 2025, shipping companies are obliged to account for 70% of their carbon emissions from large vessels at EU ports, with full compliance expected by 2026. Additionally, the FuelEU Maritime regulation mandates that ships over 5,000 gross tonnes report the greenhouse gas intensity of their energy use. This shift means that ports can no longer operate with indirect accountability regarding emissions.
EmissionInsider offers essential, verified data covering vessel operations and cargo handling, aligning with the GHG Protocol. It is already proving valuable for several major ports in preparing EU ETS reports and designing carbon-reduction strategies. Sjoerd de Jager, CEO of PortXchange, emphasized the significance of 2025 for the maritime sector, noting that with regulatory pressures rising, ports must not only comply but also lead the decarbonization efforts within maritime logistics. The platform is thus becoming increasingly essential for ports aiming for sustainability.
With the next EU ETS reporting deadline approaching in September 2025, the urgency for ports to act is palpable. Those who adopt tools like EmissionInsider now will not only meet compliance requirements but also establish themselves as leaders in environmental stewardship. De Jager highlighted that ports are eager to understand how quickly they can implement these solutions and convert emissions data into effective actions.