While the voting procedure for the 2019 GREEN4SEA Awards is open, Mr. Raúl Cascajo, Head of Environmental Policies, Valenciaport, refers to the many green initiatives that Valenciaport has taken and for which it has been shortlisted in the ‘Port’ category alongside other distinguished nominees. Being members of ESPO, who have also signed the World Ports Sustainability Initiative chart, the port is highly committed to achieve UN Sustainability Goals. Moreover, Mr. Cascajo refers to things that need to change in the industry in terms of sustainability; on top of that commitment by all stakeholders is needed toward reducing marine environment pollution.
SAFETY4SEA: Your organization has been shortlisted for the 2019 GREEN4SEA Awards in the ‘Port’ category alongside a number of other distinguished nominees. What would you like to share with industry’s stakeholders with respect to this development?
Raúl Cascajo: We would like to thank the ports’ industry stakeholders the choice of Valenciaport for this shortlist. It is a great pleasure to be selected among other major ports worldwide. This is a great knowledge to the efforts of Valenciaport towards a more sustainable shipping industry.
S4S: What are currently your top 3 priorities in relation to Sustainable Shipping?
R.C: In fact we see the sustainability as part of the strategy of Valenciaport. As members of ESPO, who signed the World Ports Sustainability Initiative chart, last year in Antwerp, we are committed to achieve the United Nations Sustainability Goals. In particular, our top 3 priorities is the increase of the energy efficiency and the reduction of the port’s emissions by the implementation of cleaner technologies and as a result of the former, the reduction of the Valenciaport’s carbon footprint. And the third one would be to minimize the impact of shipping in the water quality by the implementation of regeneration measures for the most exposed areas.
S4S: Do you have any new projects on the pipeline and/or plans that you would like to share with the rest of the industry?
R.C: At present, we are working on several projects in line with the priorities mentioned before, related to ballast water management, air quality monitoring and smart grids.
S4S: If you could change one thing about the shipping industry, what would it be and why?
R.C: There are some things that should be changed, starting with setting real measures for the reduction of waste generated on board of ships. This should be linked to circular economy and the fact that, for instance, cruise vessels throw away some of the food that it is not consumed on board, while people is dying of hunger worldwide. This would really be an effective measure to reduce both hunger and waste generation. Other things could be changed to in relation to the real commitment of countries on the reduction of the air and water pollution.
S4S: What is your key message to the industry for a more sustainable future of shipping?
R.C: Shipping industry should play an essential role in terms of sustainability. However, the efforts should be made by all actors, including maritime administrations, ports, shipowners, port operators, traders and charterers. This role include real commitments in reducing air and water pollution by transferring to cleaner fuels, proper management of the ballast waters on board of the ships, circular economy as part of the strategy of all actors and the strict fulfilment of international maritime regulations. Doing so, we could consider shipping as a contributor to the fight against the climate change, otherwise we would be contributing to worse the environmental situation, which will directly affect to the human being.
You may cast your vote for Valenciaport at 2019 GREEN4SEA Awards dedicated webpage till 22nd of February 2019!
The views presented hereabove are only those of the author and not necessarily those of SAFETY4SEA and are for information sharing and discussion purposes only.