Better regulation helps sustainability

Industry support for policies that incorporate environmental, economic and social considerations could enable a regulatory improvement review with the goal of delivering stronger, more sustainable coastal communities across both dimensions, the chief executive officer of UKMPG has said.

However, this doesn’t require the government to create more environmental legislation or to adopt a start from scratch approach, said Tim Morris, speaking exclusively to GreenPort. “What is required is a renewed focus on how the current rule book can be improved both in theory and in its application.”

Three levels

Reviewing environmental legislation forms part of the UKMPG’s and the British Port Association’s (BPA) 10-point plan for UK ports and the UKMPG believe there are three levels at which at renewed focus can be achieved.

“At the highest level it starts with setting out a clear vision for the environment and a positive interaction within legislation,” Mr Morris said. For example, outcomes to be achieved and guiding principles to be followed could be set out.

“Marine planning should be properly integrated into the wider development process and there should be explicit, standing recognition of the role of ports in the ‘blue economy’ and facilitating UK trade,” he added.

Additionally, he stated, there needs to be a way for Statutory nature conservation bodies (SNCBs), regulators, industry, Non-Government Organisations (NGOs) and other relevant organisations to work more closely together and in a more constructive way.

Economic linking

At the next level, industry needs more consistent detail on economic concepts like ‘Net Gain’ and natural capital and the way these concepts can be applied to support development as well as environmental protection. “Otherwise we’re just adding another compliance hurdle,” stressed Mr Morris.

“Linked to this we’d like to see ‘Net Gain’ viewed in a broad sustainably sense, encompassing social dimensions too so that benefits to local communities are being more directly addressed.”

Application improvement

Lastly, there should be a collective look at where the detail of rules and their application can be improved, said Mr Morris.

One approach to this could be linking and streamlining the separate environmental assessment processes that may be required for developments, explained Mr Morris.

Compensatory measures for development could also be applied in ways which contribute better to the overall benefit of local ecosystems and communities.

Greater use could also be made of cost benefit analysis linked to the socio-economic benefits that derive from development.

“Current over simplistic and inflexible ‘like for like’ approaches can preclude opportunities for innovative enhancement,” he warned.