Environmental Indicators and Targets

Indicators

It is important that, as part of any mechanism to manage environmental impacts there are systems in place for monitoring improvement and for supplying information to facilitate review.  We have a number of such mechanisms in place to ensure that we can see what impacts our actions are having and to be able to look for improvements.

For example, environmental issues are covered in the Company’s internal programme with findings from these reviews being reported to the group's CSR commiteee.  We collect information on a number of environmental indicators which are monitored at each of the ports. These include:

• CO₂ emissions
• Electricity usage
• Water consumption
• Third party managed waste
• ABP generated waste
• Dredged material
• Designated conservation sites
• Coastal zone management plans

Information derived from these indicators is used to identify actions to improve environmental performance.  We have reviewed the indicators we use to determine their usefulness, both for reporting mechanisms and for improving environmental actions.  This has led to the introduction of other indicators on which data is gathered from each of the ports:

• Environmental Incidents/Near Misses – very important for learning lessons which can be implemented as good practice.
• Good Environmental Actions – recording those actions not driven by the Environment Risk Register or legislation, but of real value to report and encourage across all the business units.

The environmental indicators are used to set the environmental objectives published annually in ABP's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Report.  These objectives are set out  below:

2006 Initiative	Status	2007 Initiatives
Maintain like-for-like CO2 emissions at 2005 level	Exceeded in 2006 by 10.8%	Maintain or reduce like-for-like emissions at 2006 levels
Maintain like-for-like electricity consumption at 2005 level	Exceeded in 2006 by 1.4%	Maintain like-for-like electricity consumption at 2006 levels
Maintain like-for-like water consumption at 2005 level	Exceeded in 2006 by 26.1%	Maintain or reduce like-for-like water consumption at 2006 levels
Implement a system to measure waste generated by our operations by the end of 2006	Data collection system has been implemented and a years worth of data has been recorded	We will continue to improve the quality and accuracy of data collected
Complete the construction  148 acres of inter-tidal habitat on the Humber estuary by the end of 2006	The new habitat has replaced more than twice the land area taken by ABP’s Humber developments	Report twice a year to the Estuary Steering Group comprising the environment Agency, Natural England and the RSPB on the development of habitat
Roll out the PERS accreditation on the Humber and Southampton	PERS accreditation obtained for Southampton and the Humber ports	-
Compile a register of dust suppression activities	Achieved during the year and to be maintained	-
Produce environmental risk assessment and guidance on regulatory and best practice for each guidance handled	We are continuing to develop suitable guidance	Introduce good practice in cargo handling at ports
Review the environmental criteria incorporated within our procurement policy	Procurement policy updated and published on the group intranet system	-
Review procedures for collecting information on ship generated waste and assess efficiency of electronic prior-notification system	Prior-notification system reviewed in 2006. Effectiveness of system continues to be monitored	Ongoing
Further develop internal communications and reporting by distributing procedures to business units regarding the way in which the Environmental Management Framework is delivered and by increasing reporting of environmental issues to the Operational Board	New procedures now embedded in communication process. Board received environmental reports on 11 occasions during 2006	Ongoing
Develop and implement waste management training for appointed Waste Managers	Achieved in first half of 2006	-
Communicate findings of REGs back to employees via the intranet	Information on REGS now updated on intranet	Ensure all REGs undertake a minimum of five SMART projects and report each quarter

New Initiatives

• Continue to work with regulators to finalise a maintenance dredging protocol for environmental approvals
• Continue to develop and undertake sustainable development audits for all ports and marinas

Targets

We have set both broad environmental management targets for the coming year as well as more detailed ‘theme’ specific targets.  This is a reflection of the fact that there are environmental objectives that we need to achieve for the Company overall, for example the implementation of the Environmental Management Framework, as well as more focused, objectives specific to certain environmental issues, e.g., Air Quality.  It is our intention to make progress on delivering such targets and report on those actions in future Environment Reports.

Environmental Management Targets:

Management Target	Proposed Actions
Develop a framework for implementing the EU Water Framework Directive	Involvement with River Basin Liaison Panels and through UKMPG initiatives
Provide assistance to business units on development practice and policy	To be undertaken as required
Continue to support environmental research through collaboration with research organisations and sponsorship	To be decided on a case specific basis
Continue to comply with all relevant environmental legislation.	Assess performance through Sustainable Development Audits
To provide further guidance to Environment Co-ordinators and the ports in 2006	Environment Co-ordinators’ annual conference to be held in May 2007. Monthly Newsletters issued and general guidance issued as required
Review environment theme legislation and policy structure	Legislation and policy structure  reviewed. See ‘Legislation’  tab at top of screen for overarching legislation.
Review Environmental Risk Register methodology at all ABP ports	Underway
Continue to use internal audit to assess and review environment management practices on an annual basis	Discussions scheduled with the internal audit team to direct their work on environmental management
Continue with the annual BiTC Index	To be undertaken