Sustainability must become a fundamental business philosophy as the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Port Authority plans to become a “Green Port on a Great Lake.” Business diversification and expansion must be centered around the next generation of manufacturing. The maritime industry must embrace cleaner and more efficient shipping and cargo management.
Environmental compliance can no longer be enough. Ports must undertake a leadership role and voluntarily adopt leading best management practices (BMPs). Ports must be catalysts for change in how goods are transported. The economies of scale associated with shipping must not be outweighed by environmental impacts.
Ports are growing greener. Ports around the US are adopting “green policies” to help reduce and offset the negative impacts of port operations. In 2005, the Port of Long Beach adopted a Green Port Policy that includes 5 guiding principles: protect community from port operations; become environmental leader in stewardship and compliance; apply a sustainable philosophy to port operations and management; apply best management practices; and engage and educate the community. The Port of San Diego established a Green Port Program Steering Committee that oversees the implementation and evaluation of a Green Port Policy.
As competing transportation modes (such as highway and rail) improve their own environmental performance, ports throughout the Great Lakes have been engaging in a process of continual improvement. Ports throughout the Great Lakes are applying best management practices as “common-sense” approaches to addressing environmental impacts from port operations. The Great Lakes Maritime Research Institute published a Manual of Best Management Practices For Port Operations And Model Environmental Management System.
The Port of Cleveland growing “greener” too. Here’s how:
- Joined the bi-nation Green Marine program, provide leadership and environmental expertise
- Working to establish an Environmental & Sustainability Advisory Committee
- With help from the Advisory Committee, the Port of Cleveland will adopt a Green Port Policy
- Engage the community in planning for port relocation and the reconnection of downtown Cleveland to its lakefront
- Avoiding and minimizing environmental impacts; maximizing mitigation opportunities
- Focusing on the next generation of manufacturing as an anchor to the International Trade District
- Designing a cutting edge sustainable new port the applies green building technologies to manage energy use and environmental impacts
