Innovation and success factors in the construction of Green Ports

Under the new trend of global energy crisis and environmental deterioration, ports are the critical avenue for the enhancement of the global economy, as well as being significant energy consuming units and sources of pollution in the world. Therefore, it is proposed that international ports be developed as Green Ports. Using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP), a hierarchical model incorporating the dimensions of resource management, environment construction and environmental quality was constructed based on the idea of a Green Port. The research results show that: (i) environmental quality is most important in a Green Port development, while an emphasis on carbon dioxide emissions is more effectively placed within the category of environmental quality; (ii) environment construction appears to be of secondary importance in a Green Port, while an emphasis on expansion of plant is better placed within the category of environment construction, and (iii) resource management is revealed to be of tertiary importance in a Green Port, while an emphasis on management of waste is more effectively placed within the category of resource management. Overall, this study extends the discussion on the importance of innovation and critical success factors in Green Port development.