Environmental Disclosure: Study on Efficiency and Alignment with Environmental Priorities of Spanish Ports

Emma Castelló-Taliani,Fabricia Silva Da Rosa,Silvia Giralt Escobar

doi:10.3390/su13041791

Emma Castelló-Taliani, Fabricia Silva Da Rosa + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041791

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Abstract

The purpose of this article is to analyze, in a three-stage research project and from an economic an operational perspective, the relationships between environmental expenses, the improvements achieved in five environmental variables analyzed and efficiency. To achieve these objectives, we analyze sustainability reports and economic data from 24 Spanish ports. The three aforementioned stages of this research are the following: first, the analysis of the sustainability reports to determine the level of information; second, the analysis of the economic and operational efficiency; and, third, the analysis of the alignment with the environmental priorities of the Eco Ports-ESPO (European Sea Ports Organization). The results reveal that (1) the type of traffic does not affect environmental actions; (2) environmental performance (improvements) depends on environmental expenditures; (3) environmental spending and efficiency in port operations are correlated; and (4) environmental spending and port economic efficiency are correlated. The research can contribute to the decision-making process of port managers by revealing that the alignment with the EcoPorts priorities can be important to direct the environmental performance of the ports towards the global interests revealed in this indicator. It also reveals that environmental expenditures and investments may be related to environmental performance and economic and operational efficiency. However, it also reveals that it is important to improve the extent of environmental disclosure to better explain the qualitative and monetary characteristics of each piece of information provided about environmental performance.

Highlights

Maritime transport is an important type of transport for globalized trade, as it represents approximately 90% of global trade [1]; its negative impact on the environment is significant
This article proposes, in a three-stage research project and from an economic and operational perspective, to analyze the relationships between environmental expenses, the improvements achieved in five environmental variables analyzed and the efficiency of ports
The third stage of the study involved a correlational analysis of the PA environmental reports found in the first stage, and an examination of the results found in the second stage of the economic and operational efficiency analysis

Summary

Introduction

Maritime transport is an important type of transport for globalized trade, as it represents approximately 90% of global trade [1]; its negative impact on the environment is significant In this scenario, ports should be taken into account: in order to allow this type of transportation, ports often engage in actions that affect the environment [2], such as air pollution; ballast water discharge; dredging and disposal of dredge materials; and storage, transport and management of hazardous substances [3]. It allows measuring (i) the degree of environmental disclosure; (ii) the relationship between the variables of environmental performance, transparency and economic performance factors with the degree of environmental disclosure; and (iii) the relationship between the economic performance factor and the degree of environmental disclosure modified by the factors of environmental performance and transparency [23]

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