Environmental Issues in Port Competitiveness
ATLANTIC GATEWAY INITIATIVE CENTRE FOR INTERNATIONAL TRADE AND TRANSPORTATION WORKING PAPER 7
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN PORT COMPETITIVENESS
Michelle ADAMS Eco-Efficiency Centre Dalhousie University Pablo QUINONEZ School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS, Canada Athanasios A. PALLIS Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport University of the Aegean, Chios, Greece Thomas H. WAKEMAN Center for Maritime Systems Stevens Institute of Technology,
The intellectual property in these papers remains with the authors. Material in this publication may be freely quoted, but acknowledgement is requested, by listing all authors and referring to the working paper number in the Atlantic Gateway Working Paper series, and the web site you have accessed to download the paper.
The Atlantic Gateway Research Initiative is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, and hosted by the Centre for International Trade and Transportation
E NVIRO NME NT AL I S S UE S ABSTRACT
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P O RT C O MPE T IT IVE NE S S
What is the role of environmental performance in port competitiveness? The port industry has often faced governmental mandates for achieving regulatory compliance, including safety, security or environmental requirements. Meeting these requirements has been typically perceived as added costs. Still, some have suggested that a port’s environmental compliance, or even more aggressive environmental practices, could be transformed into a business attribute that would produce an enhancement of a port’s competitive position. With the assistance of desktop research and a survey of existing environmental performance practices, this study examines whether port authorities in practice already endorse this concept, and to what extent, and how, is environmental performance, or might be, a supportive competitive factor for Halifax and other Atlantic Canada
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN PORT COMPETITIVENESS
Michelle ADAMS Eco-Efficiency Centre Dalhousie University Pablo QUINONEZ School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax NS, Canada Athanasios A. PALLIS Department of Shipping, Trade and Transport University of the Aegean, Chios, Greece Thomas H. WAKEMAN Center for Maritime Systems Stevens Institute of Technology,
The intellectual property in these papers remains with the authors. Material in this publication may be freely quoted, but acknowledgement is requested, by listing all authors and referring to the working paper number in the Atlantic Gateway Working Paper series, and the web site you have accessed to download the paper.
The Atlantic Gateway Research Initiative is funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Nova Scotia Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal, and hosted by the Centre for International Trade and Transportation
E NVIRO NME NT AL I S S UE S ABSTRACT
IN
P O RT C O MPE T IT IVE NE S S
What is the role of environmental performance in port competitiveness? The port industry has often faced governmental mandates for achieving regulatory compliance, including safety, security or environmental requirements. Meeting these requirements has been typically perceived as added costs. Still, some have suggested that a port’s environmental compliance, or even more aggressive environmental practices, could be transformed into a business attribute that would produce an enhancement of a port’s competitive position. With the assistance of desktop research and a survey of existing environmental performance practices, this study examines whether port authorities in practice already endorse this concept, and to what extent, and how, is environmental performance, or might be, a supportive competitive factor for Halifax and other Atlantic Canada
References: Bansal, P., and Roth, K. (2000). Why Companies Go Green: A Model of Ecological Responsiveness. Academy of Management Journal, 43, pp. 717-736. Brooks, Mary R., McCalla, R., Pallis A.A. and van der Lugt L. (2009), Coordination and Cooperation in Strategic Port Management: The Case of Atlantic Canada’s Ports. Halifax: Dalhousie University Atlantic Gateway Research Initiative. Available at: http://citt.management.dal.ca/Atlantic_Gateway/Conference%2C_Oct_1820/Program.php last accessed 1O Oct, 2009. Pallis A.A. (2002), The Common EU Maritime Transport Policy: Policy Europeanisation in the 1990s, Aldershot: Ashgate. ESPO (2009), ESPO Award to Promote Societal Integration of Ports, ESPO NEWS 15.04, Brussels: ESPO, February 2009. Notteboom, T.E. and Rodrigue, J-P. (2005), ‘Port regionalization: towards a new phase in port development’, Maritime Policy and Management, 32, 3, pp. 297–313. Talley W.K. (ed) (2008), Maritime Safety, Security and Piracy, London: Informa. WRI (2007), Climate and Atmosphere: Earthtrend Country Profile, Washington: World Resources Institute http://earthtrends.wri.org/country_profiles/index.php?theme=3 last accessed 11 Oct, 2009. 20 Environmental Performance at Ports List the top 5 aspects where the internal environmental programs have either explicitly or implicitly benefited the port? Answer Options Regulatory compliance Energy efficiency and conservation New markets Health and safety Community outreach Cost control and reduction Environmental impact prevention and minimization Land redevelopment Operational efficiency Remarks #1 4 0 0 0 3 0 1 0 0 #2 0 2 1 0 1 0 4 0 0 #3 3 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 #4 0 3 0 1 1 1 0 1 1 #5 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 3 3 Rating Average 4.14 2.86 3.50 1.50 3.29 2.00 3.50 1.25 1.25 Response Count 7 7 2 2 7 1 8 4 4 1 8 0 answered question skipped question Operational efficiency Land redevelopment Environmental impact prevention and minimization Cost control and reduction Community outreach Health and safety New markets Energy efficiency and conservation Regulatory compliance 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9