EVALUATING THE EFFICACY OF SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVES AND DEVELOPMENT OF A FRAMEWORK TO IMPROVE SUSTAINABILITY IN THE CANADIAN PORT SECTOR

Abstract

Ports are critical connecting nodes in Canada’s resource-based economy that have adverse environmental and social impacts. Despite being federal entities, the Canada Port Authorities (CPAs) inconsistently report sustainability performance and are absent from Canada’s Federal Sustainable Development Strategy (FSDS). The CPAs rely on the Green Marine Environmental Program (GMEP) to assess their environmental performance, but do not explicitly assess their sustainability, necessitating an evaluation of the program’s efficacy. GMEP performance indicators (PIs) were linked to 14 of 36 relevant UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) targets. To address performance gaps in the GMEP, a complementary framework was developed using relevant Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) Standards. This framework provides CPAs with a unified approach to achieve all 36 relevant UN SDG targets. Use of this sustainability framework on its own, or in conjunction with the GMEP, ensures that CPA sustainability performance is more closely aligned with the UN SDGs and Canada’s FSDS.