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06
Developing environmental value
The Port of Barcelona is aware of the impacts that port activity has on its surrounding area and the need to prevent or minimise these conditions as much as possible. To this end, it works with the entire Port Community to make sure to reduce its environmental footprint.
The Port of Barcelona's environmental commitment is reflected in many actions and attitudes, and is evident in its adherence to the United Nations Global Compact and the European Green Deal and the milestones aligned with them.
ORIENTATION TO THE SDGS
Strategic model
This year, the drafting work was completed of the Fourth Strategic plan (2021-2025), which identifies sustainability as the main driver of development for the Port and which in the next five years will also determine the Port of Barcelona's environmental model.
Environmental Management System
The Port of Barcelona's Environmental Management System (EMS) includes the areas and activities controlled and developed by Barcelona Port Authority (APB) in accordance with its functions.
ENVIRONMENTAL ACTION
The Port of Barcelona has planned its environmental action with the 2020 Environmental Programme. The Environment Committee monitors its progress and degree of performance.
Water quality monitoring programme
Barcelona Air Quality Improvement Plan 2016-2020
Inland maritime spill containment plan (PIM)
Emergency and self-protection plans
Ship waste reception plan
Environmental communication plan
Environmental objectives and degree of performance in 2020
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Improve energy efficiency by 5% by 2020 (100%).
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Shared consumption model in the port area in 2020.
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Inventory of GHG emissions from port activity (partially).
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Update the Port's Air Quality Improvement Plan in 2020 (75%).
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Foster use of LNG as a mobility fuel (partially).
Complete projects. Pilot of a natural gas-powered straddle carrier (80%). -
Incorporate new means of response on the Prat wharf and external waters (30%).
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Improve operational response (50%).
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Update the Inland maritime spill containment plan (PIM) (75%).
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New initiatives to encourage internal participation in 2020 (postponed).
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Update materials and contents for external communication (25%).
Environmental expenditure and investment
In 2020, the Port Authority earmarked €4.7 million for environmental actions. Most of this amount —4.3 million—, corresponds to the ship waste collection (MARPOL) service.
Commitment to tackling climate change: decarbonising
The Port of Barcelona is aware of its leading role in decarbonising maritime transport and port activity. Therefore, in line with the objectives of the European Union (EU) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO), it took on the commitment to halve CO2 emissions by 2030 in relation to 2017.
ENERGY TRANSITION
The Port is immersed in the process of moving towards a new energy model: renewable energies, energy storage and a smart electricity grid making it possible to respond to new consumption patterns with optimal management.
This vision was put into practice in 2020 with pilot testing of energy communities with consumption shared between various concessionaire facilities.
The APB achieves energy saving and efficiency by applying measures such as using LEDs and sectorising switching on and off in its facilities; introducing the use of renewables at the Fishermen's wharf and the BIP; and incorporating LEDs and improving management of public lighting.
Discountable investments
In 2020 the Port of Barcelona provided eligible terminals with environmental discounts to the tune of €900,000.
REDUCING VEHICLE AND MACHINERY EMISSIONS
The APB currently has 41 electric vehicles out of a fleet of around 100 units and 44 recharging points for own use. They have also installed three new recharging points for public use; we expect to have 27 points distributed throughout the port area by 2022.
THE IMPACT OF THE INTERMODAL STRATEGY
The Port 's intermodal strategy in favour of rail transport and short sea shipping represented savings in 2020 of €778 million in the cost of negative externalities.
Environmental performance and monitoring
The basic data and indicators relating to the most significant direct and indirect environmental aspects are specified below.
Consumption of natural resources
Water consumption
Energy consumption
Electricity consumption
Fuel consumption
Impact on the surrounding area and the environment
Below are the main indicators of the impact port activity has on its surrounding area and the tools the Port of Barcelona has to monitor and minimise it.
THE MARINE ENVIRONMENT
Port water cleaning service
Quality of the marine environment
During 2020, the Port of Barcelona monitored the quality of port waters in collaboration with the Catalan Water Agency in compliance with the Water Framework Directive and under the Coastal Water Surveillance Plan for Catalonia.
Quality of sediments and benthic communities
THE ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
The strategy for reducing emissions of polluting gases and particulate matter is defined in the Port of Barcelona Air Quality Improvement Plan, adopted in 2016, which brings together a total of 53 concrete and specific actions to reduce polluting emissions and particulates.
The Plan continued to be updated in 2020, incorporating the most efficient actions to achieve the objective of decarbonising the Port.
Monitoring air quality
In its efforts to monitor air quality, the Port has a meteorological network with seven stations; three automatic stations for measuring polluting gases, and a network of high-volume sensors for PM10 particulates (suspended particles with diameters less than10μm) and 3 for PM2,5 .
Promoting the move to gas
The Air Quality Improvement Plan includes actions aimed at promoting the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative fuel for cargo transport by sea and land.
From 2017 to 2020, some 78,000 m3 of LNG were supplied to ships at the Port of Barcelona, 27,000 m3 from a tanker truck (TTS mode) and 51,000 m3 from a barge (STS mode).
AIR QUALITY INDICATORS
Pollutant gas emissions
THE TERRESTRIAL ENVIRONMENT
Preventing soil pollution
A database of contaminated soils was set up in 2020 in which soil and groundwater pollution data were introduced from more than 600 boreholes and more than 1,500 records.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
The APB practices selective waste collection, and in 2020 it managed a total of 1,037 tonnes of waste, internal or external, 99% of which were non-hazardous.
Ship-generated waste management - MARPOL Convention
In 2020 the Port managed a total of 99,126 m3 of MARPOL waste, almost half of the 197,812 m3 managed the previous year, due to lower vessel traffic due to the covid-19 pandemic.
ECOLOGY AND DIVERSITY
Bird control
In 2001 and 2002 the Port of Barcelona helped to reintroduce the peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) in the city of Barcelona, raising three chicks in an artificial nest installed in a grain silo. As a result of the initiative, the falcon population in Barcelona is becoming more consolidated, and in 2020 three pairs of the nine were raised at the Port in Barcelona./p>
