Presentation on Research Proposal by

Harry Barnes-Dabban(Ghana Ports & Harbours Authority)

PhD Researcher, Environmental Policy Group

Wageningen University & ResearchThe Netherlands

Supervisors: Prof A.P.J. Mol & Prof. Kris van Koppen

Research Topic

“Governing Environmental Flows from Shipping: West and Central African

(WACAF) Ports and the Network Society”

Presentation Outline Research Background Research Problem Research Objective Research Question Conceptual Framework Research Methodology Expected Results/Scientific Significance Preliminary Conclusions

Research Background Growing concern about threats to global

environmental quality Ports obliged to MEAs and IMO Conventions WACAF ports and environmental flows from

shipping – ship waste, ballast water, oil spill Emerging innovative forms of steering as

Eco-Ports under ESPO WACAF ports operate as individual entities WACAF Region requires coordinated

environmental approaches

Research Problem Ports crucial for WACAF economies Export-led programmes means increased

shipping with environmental challenges Lack of capacity and ineffective

enforcement of international conventions Marpol 73/78, BWC ’04, OPRC ‘90 & Abidjan

Convention ‘81 HOW CAN THEY COMPLY AND IMPROVE

ENVIRONMENTAL PERFORMANCE?

Research Objective

“to analyse the dynamics of local and global environmental strategies and the opportunities they present for regional forms of environmental steering and cooperation to improve environmental performance in WACAF ports”

Research Question

“what are the actual and potential contributions that regional forms of environmental steering and cooperation can make in the linking of local and global strategies to improve environmental performance in WACAF ports?”

Conceptual Framework Manuel Castells’ “Network and Flows

Theory” in his work ‘Network Society’ (1996)

Shift from ‘nation-states’ and ‘national societies’ to ‘networks and flows’ of capital, people, technology etc.

Time-space organisation of social activities ‘space of flows’ and ‘space of places’

Figure 1

Local Environmental Strategies

Global Environmental Strategies

Port A Port C Port B

Interface

Local + Global

Regional Environmental Co-operation

Figure 2

Global Environmental Strategies

Local Environmental Strategies

Regional

Environmental Cooperation

Improved Environmental Performance

Research Methodology Case study of Ports of Abidjan, Douala, Lagos and TemaPorts of Antwerp and Rotterdam Questionnaires and interviews Literature review Existing relevant data and documents

available in ports, institutions and agencies

Expected Results/ Scientific Significance

Contribute to existing knowledge on port environmental governance

Identify what contributions regional forms of environmental steering/ cooperation can make to improve environmental performance in the WACAF region

Promote environmental awareness and support environmental improvement in WACAF ports

Preliminary Conclusions WACAF ports exposed to a new reality Environment at centre of global

development agenda Through networks of actors, WACAF ports

can work together in managing environmental challenges

Environmental governance forms and practices are available

Thank you for your kind attention