Our business activities carry environmental risk and we have identified three primary environmental risk categories: climate change (emissions to air), soil and water pollution and biodiversity impacts. We monitor and report data across our global portfolio to help understand and manage these risks to reduce any adverse impact on the environment.
Climate change
APM Terminals is a key node in the shipping value chain. However, research by Garrat and Rowlands (2011) indicates that the contribution to supply chain CO2 emissions from terminal operators is low, with approximately 2-3% of the total CO2 emitted in the intercontinental supply chain attributable to terminals. Nevertheless, as part of our sustainability strategy we have committed to reduce our global terminal CO2 emissions by 25% per TEU by 2020, based on a 2010 baseline, and in 2012 we achieved a further 4% reduction in CO2 emissions per TEU, compared to the previous year.
Climate change impacts can be addressed most effectively by working together with our customers, port authorities and industry peers. In support of this, in 2012 APM Terminals contributed to the development of Guidance for Greenhouse Gas Emission Footprinting for Container Terminals, as part of a project developed by the EU Ports European Economic Interest Group.
Soil and water pollution
Spillage of environmentally harmful substances such as oil or lubricants is a risk of our activity, and facilities are therefore required to have procedures in place to mitigate and manage this risk. We also require each facility to report on spillages and in 2012 we had no reported significant spills, compared to 2 reported in 2011.
Biodiversity
In 2012 APM Terminals, as part of an A.P. Moller-Maersk Group project, worked with the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) - World Conservation Monitoring Centre to undertake a study to assess our global operating sites potential exposure to biodiversity sensitivities. The assessment considered threatened and vulnerable species and ecosystems, protected areas and areas of conservation importance. This project provided a first step in understanding biodiversity in the context of our global operations.
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