Environmental management systems in Greek ports: A transformation tool?

Abstract

Environmental Management Systems in ports represent an effort to combine high-quality port services and strong environmental performance with modern management strategies and street-level implementation. The broader use of EMS indicates a shift towards more sustainable port organization, operation and development, but also a trend to optimize objectives, means and procedures through a consistent, well-organized and result-oriented effort. This research paper delves into EMS as transformative tools, with a particular focus on their implementation and impact within Greek ports. Our findings suggest that EMS are powerful tools. They have the capacity to set strategic decisions into motion, establish concrete and measurable targets, introduce new processes and procedures, reorganize existing structures or create new ones, mobilize resources effectively, and generate tangible outputs and effects. Concurrently, EMS may have significant externalities by catalyzing changes in port strategy, governance, structure, or organizational culture. EMS reflect a heightened environmental ambition and engagement on the part of port authorities and serve as catalysts for the environmental mainstreaming and sustainability efforts within the port industry. Nonetheless, it is important to acknowledge that EMS implementation does have certain limits and limitations that should be taken into account when striving for better environmental performance or sustainable port development.

Keywords

• Environmental management systems in ports
• Environmental performance
• Sustainability
• Externalities
• Greek ports