As we move into the 21st century, nations have become increasingly interdependent. International trade has become commonplace and trade between nations is expected to continue growing at historically high rates. This trade has created challenges for the transportation industry as bottlenecks, congestion, air emissions and other impacts draw the attention of the public and policy makers. It is widely recognised that current patterns in the transportation industry are not sustainable [United Nations Agenda 21]. These industry-wide concerns represent a call to action for the waterborne transportation industry, which provides sustainable benefits for a significant portion of the global transportation network. This report attempts to highlight how waterborne transportation can play a key role in providing sustainable solutions to the global transportation challenges of the future. A common definition of sustainability is: human actions and conduct that meet society?s present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs while maintaining the natural resource base and environmental quality on which life depends. It is recognised that different definitions and interpretations of sustainable transport exist (see, for example, Bella and Brezet (2007) or Joumard and Gudmundsson (2010)). However, for the purposes of this report the term ?sustainable waterborne transportation? is interpreted as the long-term maintenance of environmental, economic and social well-being.rn
rnA brief history provides some needed context for this report. At the first United Nations (UN) sponsored Earth Summit Conference, held in Stockholm, Sweden in 1972, the participants adopted a declaration of principles for the preservation and enhancement of the human environment. This and subsequent actions have continuously raised the awareness of man?s impact on the global environment. The next touchstone event occurred in 1988, with the establishment of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a UN forum for the examination of greenhouse and global climate change. This was quickly followed by the second World Climate Conference in 1990, which declared that ??climate change was a global problem of unique character for which a global response was required.? rn
rnIn 1992, the UN General Assembly convened another Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The resulting ?Rio Declaration? and ?Agenda 21? set a new framework for seeking international agreement and environmental cooperation. Chapter 9 of Agenda 21 dealt with the ??protection of the atmosphere, establishing the link between science, sustainable development, energy development and consumption, transportation (emphasis added), industrial development, stratospheric ozone depletion and transboundary atmospheric pollution.? The conference also opened for signature the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which sought to stabilise concentrations of ?greenhouse gases?. By the end of 1992, 158 States had signed on. With the 1997 adoption of the Kyoto Protocol to the UNFCCC, signatory nations (the US notably absent) agreed to a reduction of the industrial countries? overall emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by at least 5 percent below the 1990 levels. The Protocol came into force on February 16, 2005. Most recently, the UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) published the proceedings of its February 2009 Meeting on Transport and Trade Facilitation as ?Maritime Transport and the Climate Change Challenge?. This December 2009 document was intended to be an advisory document to participants in the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change, presenting key issues discussed by experts and making their insights available to a larger audience.rn
rnThe rise of globalisation driven by low-cost labour in the developing economies of China, India and elsewhere has in turn boosted international trade, with maritime transport carrying over 80 percent of the total volume. As the transportation industry is a significant contributor of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases, policymakers around the world are looking for ways to encourage a sustainable transportation industry. Given the primacy of maritime transport in the total picture, it makes sense to focus attention on benefits, challenges and opportunities posed by this key mode. This report seeks to inform these policy decisions by highlighting ways in which the navigation transportation sector ? both maritime and inland ? can be part of a sustainable global transportation network.rn
rnThis report produces no new independent research. Rather, it consolidates and highlights the research of others to present a balanced treatment of the benefits of waterborne transportation, while recognising the challenges and opportunities faced by the navigation industry. In this way the authors hope to provide a comprehensive reference for policymakers, educators and industry professionals.rn
rnThe report is targeted at non-technical stakeholders, such as shippers, policymakers and non-governmental organisations who have an interest in the choices to be made as the global transportation system evolves. It assumes a limited knowledge of the industry and attempts to provide sufficient background material for a general understanding of the benefits, opportunities and challenges faced by the navigation industry.rn
