How People Green the Port: Sustainability in Canadian Ports

How People Green the Port: Sustainability in Canadian Ports by Kristianne R. Hendricks B.A., University of the Fraser Valley, 2014 Thesis Submitted in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Arts in the Department of Geography Faculty of Environment Kristianne Rebecca Hendricks 2017 SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY Spring 2017 Approval Name: Kristianne Rebecca Hendricks Degree: Master of Arts Title: How People Green the Ports: Sustainability in Canadian Ports Examining Committee: Chair: Meg Holden Associate Professor Peter Hall Senior Supervisor Professor Roger Hayter Supervisor Professor Adolf Ng External Examiner Professor Asper School of Business University of Manitoba Date Defended/Approved: April 4, 2017 ii Ethics Statement iii Abstract Canadian Port Authorities (CPAs) annually move $162 billion in international trade and in recent years have been faced with significant pressures to become environmentally sustainable. In response, CPAs have introduced numerous greening strategies with important implications for the dock labour force. This thesis focuses on the greening strategies undertaken by CPAs and their interplay with dockworkers; it identifies these greening strategies and assesses their implications for dockworkers. The thesis adopts a two-part methodology. First, greening measures undertaken by CPAs are categorized and compared. Second, a case study of Vancouver’s port is undertaken through interviews with a broad set of port actors in order to examine the links between labour and sustainability in the port. It is concluded that greening strategies have been an important, albeit uneven trend across CPAs and that dockworkers play an influential role in the greening of the port. Keywords: Canadian Ports; Environmental Sustainability; Labour; Vancouver iv Dedication To the three people who inspire me to keep learning every day: Shaleena, Adalia, and Zoren. Thank you for always giving me a reason to smile. v Acknowledgements I would like to take this opportunity to extend my deepest gratitude to those who have made this thesis possible. Most notably, I would like to thank Dr. Peter Hall for his incredible guidance, patience, and incredible insight and wisdom throughout my degree. I would also like to thank Dr. Roger Hayter for his excellent feedback which helped to refine this thesis. Thank you also to Dr. Alfred Ng, my external examiner for his comments and support, and to Dr. Meg Holden for her work in chairing my defense. Heartfelt appreciation goes to the many who have helped me to care for my children, giving me the ability to embrace this opportunity to learn, including by not limited to Katherine Vandergugten, Chantelle Nelson, and my sister Erin Bos. To Natalia, Patrick, and Renato, thank you for your unwavering support, and for always believing in me, and for always pointing me in the right direction. I would like to thank both the Simon Fraser University Geography department and the UBC Sauder school of Business Center for Transportation Studies for the funding provided to me to both complete and present this work. And finally, I would like to thank all of the colleagues and friends I have made throughout this research project for their thoughts, ideas, and support. vi Table of Contents Approval .............................................................................................................................ii Ethics Statement ............................................................................................................... iii Abstract .............................................................................................................................iv Dedication ......................................................................................................................... v Acknowledgements ...........................................................................................................vi Table of Contents ............................................................................................................. vii List of Tables .....................................................................................................................ix List of Figures....................................................................................................................ix List of Acronyms ................................................................................................................ x Glossary ........................................................................................................................... xii Chapter 1. In the books: examining the greening of the port .................................. 1 1.1. Introduction .............................................................................................................. 1 1.2. Canadian Port Authorities ........................................................................................ 2 1.3. Literature Review ..................................................................................................... 6 1.3.1. Sustainability and the Port .......................................................................... 6 Environmental Considerations ................................................................................. 7 Port-Community Connections .................................................................................. 9 Land Transportation Connections .......................................................................... 11 Port Operations ...................................................................................................... 12 1.3.2. Labour ....................................................................................................... 14 1.4. Objectives .............................................................................................................. 16 1.5. Methods ................................................................................................................. 17 1.5.1. Port Overview ........................................................................................... 19 1.5.2. Web Survey .............................................................................................. 20 1.5.3. Case Study and Interviews ....................................................................... 23 1.6. Organization ........................................................................................................... 27 Chapter 2. Green port policies in Canada ............................................................... 29 2.1. Introduction ............................................................................................................ 29 2.2. Environmental Considerations ............................................................................... 32 2.2.1. Environmental Considerations by CPAs ................................................... 32 2.2.2. Air .............................................................................................................. 35 2.2.3. Soil ............................................................................................................ 38 2.2.4. Water ........................................................................................................ 39 2.2.5. Plants and Animals ................................................................................... 41 2.3. Port-Community Connections ................................................................................ 43 2.3.1. Local Community ...................................................................................... 43 2.3.2. Memberships ............................................................................................ 46 2.3.3. Vessel Incentives ...................................................................................... 48 2.3.4. Port Authority Tenants .............................................................................. 49 2.3.5. Environmental training .............................................................................. 50 2.4. Landside Transportation Connections .................................................................... 51 2.4.1. Trucks and Vehicles .................................................................................. 52 2.4.2. Rail ............................................................................................................ 53 vii 2.4.3. Fuel ........................................................................................................... 54 2.5. Port Operations ...................................................................................................... 55 2.5.1. Power/Electricity ....................................................................................... 55 2.5.2. Noise ......................................................................................................... 56 2.5.3. Buildings and Infrastructure ...................................................................... 58 2.5.4. Equipment ................................................................................................. 59 2.5.5. Waste ........................................................................................................ 60 2.5.6. Spill Response .......................................................................................... 62 2.5.7. Cleaning .................................................................................................... 63 2.6. Conclusion ............................................................................................................

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