Nature Positive Role of the Ports Sector

However, less focus internationally has been on ports than on shipping, given ports are not internationally governed. Some leading ports have acknowledged their impacts on nature and have made their own commitments to take action. For example: –Port of Darwin in Australia has issued a number of environmental protection plans, including an environmental management plan and minimum environmental expectations, to minimize the impact of arriving ships on the local ecosystems.49 –Port of Rotterdam in the Netherlands is constructing the Porthos carbon capture and storage (CCS) project, with which the CO2 storage will reduce emissions from the companies in the port by 10%. It is also dedicated to the recycling of concrete particles in circular buildings by partially using recycled concrete in all construction works – 25% of the structural concrete base material (gravel) will be replaced by high-quality concrete pellets.50,51 –The Port of Singapore incentivizes GHG emission reduction in ships by offering up to 30% reduction in port dues for ships using zero- or low-carbon fuels.52 The Mormugao Port in India is providing a discount on the port dues component of the vessel-related charges for the eco-friendly vessels calling at the Mormugao Port based on the environmental ship index (ESI) score given by the International Association of Ports and Harbours (IAPH).53While recognizing that many ports have already made progress in considering and addressing climate change and environmental pollution, the sector now requires systematic thinking and accelerated action to support nature-positive goals. Ports should be fully aware of their relationship with nature and consider the entire value chain when it comes to decision-making. With growing expectations from financial institutions, employees and customers, as well as anticipated new policy and regulation worldwide, the business case for action on nature has never been stronger. Corporate leaders should start to assess, commit, transform and disclose – as per the ACT-D framework – in a more systematic way. As noted in the Introduction, companies need to: identify, measure, value and prioritize their nature-related impacts and dependencies across their value chains to ensure they act on the most material ones; set transparent, time-bound, specific, science-based targets when material; take actions to transform their businesses; and track performance to publicly disclose material nature-related information. For more information on tools and guidance available for the ACT-D set of high-level actions, see Table 1. The stages of ACT-D will also need to be supported by a range of other activities, including agreeing on definitions, determining materiality thresholds, mapping assets and operations, gathering information on existing nature-related activities, making the case for nature action internally within your organisation (beyond disclosure), and establishing the vision of success. Selected tools and guidance available for ACT-D high-level actions TABLE 1 Assess Consult the locate-evaluate-assess-prepare (LEAP) approach from TNFD. Follow the technical guidance to assess54 and prioritize55 from SBTN. Commit Follow the approach the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is developing to measure nature- positive56 and set targets. Set science-based targets, taking inspiration from the technical guidance provided for freshwater, land, ocean and biodiversity by SBTN.57 For climate, refer to the guidance from the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). Transform Take inspiration from the World Economic Forum’s Nature Positive Transitions: Sectors report series;58 invest resources and commit management to deliver against clear targets.59 Disclose Consult the final recommendations60 from TNFD for nature-related disclosures. For climate, refer to the ISSB guidance on disclosure of sustainability-related financial information and climate- related disclosures.61 Use CDP’s disclosure platform, which includes guidance on climate change, forests, water security, biodiversity and plastics.62 Note: This table is non-exhaustive. For more tools and guidance, see High-level Business Actions on Nature and The Nature Strategy Handbook.of the gravel will be replaced by high-quality concrete pellets in the Port of Rotterdam.25% Nature Positive: Role of the Port Sector 16