Halifax Port Authority unveils new sustainability strategy

Canada’s Halifax Port Authority (HPA) has launched a new sustainability strategy that will serve as a tool to help plan for, assess and report on its work.

Framed by the World Ports Sustainability Program (WPSP), the strategy covers the timeline from 2024-2030 and commits the HPA to actions including reducing the severity and impacts of safety incidents on people and communities, lowering greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and implementing measures to improve local wildlife ecosystems within and around Halifax Harbour.

The WPSP’s six key themes in HPA strategy are community building, health, safety and security, digitalization, infrastructure, climate and energy, as well as environmental care.

HPA noted that the strategy builds on its sustainability policy and will be followed by the sustainability report for 2022-2023.

Sara Colburne, Vice-President, Strategy and Transformation, at HPA, said: “Our new strategy reinforces that sustainability is front-of-mind at HPA. We developed our strategy across HPA departments, with our Board of Directors, and tapping into the insights of our port community. We will advance our sustainability commitments through rolling action plans and will share details on our progress through the release of sustainability reports every two years.”

To remind, in late 2023, the Port of Halifax, together with the Port of Hamburg and the Port of Valencia, announced that the three parties are in talks about the creation of a global network of port innovation hubs.

The aim is to become a global alliance of port innovators. This will drive the adoption of innovation in the global port system by connecting communities of innovation centers, including start-ups, entrepreneurs, companies, researchers, universities and investors, to share innovative ideas, project results, innovation experiences, methodologies and best practices.

The same year, Canadian shipbuilder Irving Shipbuilding decided to invest in the Green Harbour Project developed by the Verschuren Centre, which aims to make Halifax Harbour a net-zero emitter by 2050. The investment will go towards identifying the best biofuel technology for marine vessels.

Allan Gray, President and CEO of HPA, stated at the time: “Initiatives like the Green Harbour Project are an important part of our collective efforts within the marine community to reduce emissions and create a more sustainable future.”