C40 Cities, supported by IFC and IAPH, announces first-of-its-kind partnership at the C40 World Mayors Summit to drive port decarbonisation through innovative sustainable finance mechanisms
- The new Global Port Sustainability-Linked Loan (SLL) initiative targets $1 billion in green maritime infrastructure investment within three years, with focus on Global South ports
- The partnership will help address a $200 billion sustainability-linked financing gap for infrastructure in the maritime sector
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (4 November 2025) – C40 Cities, supported by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and the International Association of Ports and Harbors (IAPH), today announces the launch of the Global Port Sustainability-Linked Loan (SLL) Initiative at the C40 World Mayors Summit. This transformative partnership is designed to unlock massive investment in sustainable port infrastructure and accelerate the maritime sector's just transition to net-zero.
The initiative establishes the first global framework specifically tailored to deploy Sustainability-Linked Loans for port decarbonisation projects worldwide. By combining C40's network of nearly 100 cities and dozens of ports, IFC’s expertise in structuring climate finance transactions, and IAPH’s global alliance of 201 ports, the partnership will deliver comprehensive market guidance, capacity-building programmes, and direct access to finance for port authorities, particularly in the Global South where financing barriers have hindered green infrastructure deployment.
Maritime transport carries over 80% of global goods and accounts for roughly 3% of global CO₂ emissions. Ports, as nodes of global trade, require an estimated $1-2 trillion in cumulative investment through 2050 for shore power electrification, alternative fuel bunkering infrastructure, and zero-emission cargo-handling equipment. Yet approximately $200 billion in sustainability-linked capital remains untapped due to technical, financial, and regulatory barriers facing port authorities.
The C40-IFC-IAPH partnership directly addresses this climate finance gap through:
- Standardised SLL frameworks that tie loan terms to ambitious sustainability KPIs, reducing transaction costs and improving investor confidence
- Technical advisory support helping port authorities structure investment-ready projects and access to a global network of development banks and commercial lenders
- Blended finance mechanisms combining concessional climate funds, development bank capital, and commercial investment to de-risk early-stage green technologies
- Capacity-building programs including regional workshops and Port SLL Academies targeting Global South participants
The projected impact will drive C40’s efforts to:
- Prepare more than 50 zero-emission port and shipping projects for investment by 2030
- Mobilise resilient and sustainable maritime infrastructure finance for at least $1 billion within three years, leveraging IFC's mobilisation capacity
- Reduce maritime and port-related emissions in participating cities by 25-40% by 2035
- Generate up to 4 million new jobs globally by 2050 through maritime decarbonisation, with significant concentration in Global South port cities
- Support achievement of C40 cities' commitment to drive creation of 50 million good, green jobs by 2030
- Facilitate equitable access to competitive infrastructure financing for IAPH member ports in the Global South and Small Island States
The initiative builds on extensive groundwork including comprehensive market assessments and lender outreach to 30 commercial banks confirming strong support for standardised port SLL frameworks. The partnership formalises the Memorandum of Understanding signed between IFC and C40 in September 2024, moving beyond information-sharing to active co-leadership of sector-wide financial mobilisation.
The initiative will provide critical support for port authorities in the Global South, which handle more than half of seaborne exports and 60% of imports and face acute challenges including limited fiscal space, higher perceived investment risk, and weak credit ratings that drive up borrowing costs.
The partnership’s next steps include regional workshops and capacity-building programmes, commencing in 2026.
C40 Cities Managing Director of Climate Finance, Knowledge, and Partnerships Andrea Fernandez said, “Ports are gateways of international trade, and this global framework sets a new precedent, sending clear signals to the market and accelerating the pace and scale of climate finance for critical investments in zero-emission port infrastructure.
“This joint initiative delivers many wins: it de-risks commercial investments in port infrastructure and green fuels, it advances a just transition by enabling ports, particularly in the Global South, to address fiscal challenges, and also enhances technical assistance and capacity-building programmes.
“Crucially, the Global Port SLL initiative makes a compelling case to ramp up maritime decarbonisation and accelerate climate resilience, protecting the people and places we love.”
IAPH Managing Director Patrick Verhoeven said, “The Global Port Sustainability-Linked Loan initiative marks an important step forward for further collaboration between ports, loan providers, and regulators. These land-based investments can fund long-term infrastructure and support offtake agreements for low and zero-carbon shipping fuels and liquid bulk transport.
“Access to finance can equip ports with the necessary infrastructure to handle future low and zero-carbon energy molecules produced from renewable energy sources. This initiative complements IAPH’s work on the Clean Energy Marine Hubs (CEM HUBS) initiative, which aims to import, export, bunker, and where feasible, produce clean energy sources and zero and near-zero emission fuels.
“We look forward to further collaboration with C40 Cities and IFC to mobilise this framework with our port members to advance maritime decarbonisation.”
NOTES TO EDITORS
For media enquiries:
Jonathan Terrefe - Strategic Communications and Engagement Manager, Ports and Shipping
jterrefe@c40.org or media@c40.org
Richard Main - Head of Global Media
rmain@c40.org or media@c40.org
ABOUT C40 CITIES
C40 Cities is a network of nearly 100 mayors of the world’s leading cities working to deliver the urgent action needed right now to confront the climate crisis and create a future where everyone, everywhere, can thrive. Mayors of C40 cities are committed to using a science-based and people-focused approach to limit global heating in line with the Paris Agreement and build healthy, equitable and resilient communities. We work alongside a broad coalition of representatives from labour, business, the youth climate movement and civil society to support mayors to halve emissions by 2030 and help phase out fossil use while increasing urban climate resilience and equity.
The current co-chairs of C40 are Mayor Sadiq Khan of London, United Kingdom, and Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr of Freetown, Sierra Leone; three-term Mayor of New York City Michael R. Bloomberg serves as President of the Board. C40’s work is made possible by our three strategic funders: Bloomberg Philanthropies, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation and Realdania.
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Photograph : © Barnardo Jardim Photography - C40