1. Port Environmental Quality Assurance Initiatives and Projects
11th Conference of the Pan-African Ports Co-operation (PAPC) Under the Aegis of the 38th PMAWCA Council Meeting, Dakar, Senegal,
13th – 17th February 2017

2. Presentation Outline Aim:
To appreciate the ports and environment nexus and the way forward through co-ordinated effort in promoting harmonised sustainable development of our ports
- Africa’s Economic Prospects
- Ports & the Environment
- Emergence of Port Environmental Reform
- Should Our Ports Follow?
- What is Our Context?
- Environmental Initiatives and Projects

3. Africa’s Economic Prospects
Impressive growth past 2 decades
GDP from 2% in 80s/90s to over 5% in
SSA moderate in last 2 years, from 2014 (4.7), 2015 (3.1), slumped in 2016 (1.5) but expected to strengthen in 2017 (2.9),
2018 (3.6), 2019 (3.7)
(Source: World Bank, 2017)

4. Africa’s Economic Prospects
Import/export ¼ of GDP
For growth to continue, trade must grow
Growing trade interesting for port growth
90% of international trade through maritime route
But also has environmental implications!
Growing GDP = growing trade = increasing shipping = port growth = increasing ports & marine environment problems

5. Ports & the Environment
Environment has moved from periphery to central focus that cannot be ignored
Playing lead role in global development agenda
Economic processes inevitably required to embrace social and environmental implications
Ports & marine environment problems knows no boundaries (transboundary dimensions)

6. Ports & the Environment
International nature of ports make them sensitive to global processes and trends
Ports under pressure to balance economic orientation with environmental considerations
Ports looking for pollution prevention strategies and show commitment
No more negative impact of port activities on the environment but prevention
Has triggered environment-induced transformations in ports

7. Emergence of Port Environmental Reform
Groundbreaking initiative – from European ports 1994 ‘Environmental Code of Practice’
Followed by various research on sustainability and the maritime industry
1995 Dutch and Belgium ports comparative study – (non-competitive)
1996 Australian studies on impact of regulations – (cost burden so co-ordination)

8. Emergence of Port Environmental Reform
1999 studies on UK ports’ response to regulations – (biological indicators for port waters quality)
Efforts at level playing field and environment as non-competitive issue to avoid ‘race to the bottom’
Strengthened by environmental co-operation among European ports (ECEPA)

9. Emergence of Port Environmental Reform
Several initiatives evolved since:
- Eco-information project ( )
- Environmental Management Manual (1998) AAPA
Eco-port Tools by ports and for ports
‘ports going beyond legal compliance‘
Emergent ‘GREEN PORT’ concept from ESPO
‘balancing environmental challenges with economic demands’

10. Should Our Ports Follow?
Already globalisation’s economic liberalization is transforming our ports
Increasing private sector participation
Inefficient role of the state shifted
Multinational actors are taking up roles
There is changing relations between state and non-state port actors
Environment has become an element of port competitiveness

11. Should Our Ports Follow?
Our ports therefore on eve of major structural and strategic changes
Also face environmental challenges requiring strategic interactions and dependencies to address
Ports with good environmental practices are attracting the responsible investors and businesses

12. Should Our Ports Follow?
Need to collaboratively pay attention to the dynamics of this transformation process with environment
State + non-state actors
Innovative forms of environmental governance needed
No Option But To Follow !

13. Environmental policies have received low priority
But What is Our Context?
Focused on modifying infrastructure to strengthen individual economic position
Environmental policies have received low priority
Lack of environmental capacity (human, infrastructure etc.)
Most ports lack clearly defined environmental management structure
The ports share common environmental problems

14. Environmental problems know no boundaries
But What is Our Context?
But ports operate inherently as individual entities with little recourse to environmental linkages among them
Environmental problems know no boundaries
Can be tackled through co-operative action
Koko dumping (1987) & Probo Koala Dumping (2006) as a wake-up call

15. Environmental Initiatives and Projects
African Ports Environment Initiative (APEI)
(An environmental collaborative mechanism for African ports working together)
African Ports Environment Initiative (PAPC Platform)
Inter-port Environmental Network (PMAESA Platform)
Mombasa Port Environmental Network
Cape Town Port Environmental Network
Inter-port Environmental Network (PMAWCA Platform)
Douala Port Environmental Network
Lagos Port Environmental Network
Inter-port Environmental Network (UAPNA Platform)
Alexandria Port Environmental Network
Port of Gabes Environmental Network

16. African Ports Environment Initiative (APEI)
Environmental Initiatives and Projects
African Ports Environment Initiative (APEI)
Using a Bottom-up Approach with Lead Partnering Ports (LPPs)
Inter-port Environmental Network
(PAPC Platform)
Dakar Port Environmental Network
(Port level Platform)
Mombasa Port Environmental Network
Cape Town Port Environmental Network

17. Environmental Initiatives and Projects
African Ports Environment Conferences
- 3rd under planning
Environmental Capacity Building Project with UNEP (Abidjan Convention Secretariat)
- Strategic Assessment of Port Environmental Issues, Policies and Programmes (SAPEIPP)
MARPOL Study Visits
Lisbon (May 15-19, 2017)
Bremen (October, 2017)

18. Environmental Initiatives and Projects
Eco-Port PERS Certification
The only port sector specific environmental management standard developed by ports and for ports
Compliance assessed by Lloyd’s Register
It is a first-easy step for ports towards ISO
DOTCOM Waste Project (Training)
Rome, Italy (Sept , 2017)

19. The Way Forward
Global maritime community acknowledges transboundary marine pollution can be tackled through co-ordinated collaborative approach from local through regional to global
Shift from confines of individual ports of state dominance towards transnational and multilevel approach with all actors collaborating to understand and interpret environmental risks of our ports and together evolve innovative solutions

20. Thank you for your kind interest and attention!!! info@penaf.org