Development of Framework for Improved Sustainability in the Canadian Port Sector

Jennifer L. MacNeil, Michelle Adams and Tony R. Walker
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Jennifer L. MacNeil: School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
Michelle Adams: School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada
Tony R. Walker: School for Resource and Environmental Studies, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS B3H 4R2, Canada

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 21, 1-17

Abstract: Canada Port Authorities (CPAs) are federal entities responsible for managing Canadian Ports with local, national, and international strategic importance. Despite their connection to the Government of Canada, the CPAs inconsistently report sustainability performance and are absent from Canada’s Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS)—a national strategy to operationalize the United Nation’s (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Sustainability initiatives currently used by CPAs only contribute towards attaining 14 of 36 relevant SDG targets, suggesting the need for an additional sustainability framework to achieve the remainder of these targets. This paper proposes a port-specific framework based on disclosures from the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) to fill performance gaps in current sustainability initiatives. Disclosures were selected in an iterative process based on literature and industry best practices. The framework provides a unified approach for both CPAs and policymakers to attain SDG targets relevant to the Canadian port sector and align sustainability performance with Canada’s FSDS.

Keywords: maritime ports; Canadian port sector; sustainability initiatives; sustainability reporting; sustainability framework; sustainability performance; Global Reporting Initiative (GRI); Green Marine (GM); United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs) (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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