Proposal for Adaptation of Sustainable Operational Plan Within Seaport System to Approach Climate Change

Abstract

The dynamic relationship between climate change and seaports underscores the intricate balance between human activity and environmental impact. Some substantial issues from seaport activities including land reclamation, ship emissions, extensive energy usage while berthing, and heavy fossil fuel dependency have contributed to climate change. However, many seaports have understood their role in protecting the environment. The mitigation procedure is complex due to the geospatial policies and financial constraints. Therefore, a standardised adaptation procedure needs to be introduced at seaports to ease these nodes to adopt and adapt the procedure to address climate change. The sustainable adaptation plan needs to be developed and introduced to the seaports to enhance their capability to understand and adapt the proposed plan without being hindered by internal and external constraints in seaports. Conversely, global trade has experienced substantial growth and is projected to continue expanding in the near future and eventually exacerbate climate change. By employing a qualitative approach grounded in theory, fourteen respondents were interviewed to explore why sustainable operating procedures need to be introduced in current Malaysian seaports and the impact on seaport competitiveness after the implementation of this procedure. The findings indicate that the sustainable procedure needs to be implemented for substantial climate change resilience in the seaport, bridging with international targets and regulations, strengthening environmental sustainability and conservation, encouraging the green approach, enhancing efficient collaboration, harnessing economic benefits and resilience, as well as refining social benefits and responsibility. After the implementation, the attractiveness of the seaport might develop the operational efficiency, refined transition management, transparency, synergy, and environmental responsibility, as well as improve the operational excellence, risk mitigation, regulatory alignment and boosting dynamic and structured investment in the seaport. Within the given context, the adaptation procedure through the sustainable operating procedure at the seaport offers a provisional resolution due to the escalating frequency and intensity of climate change in all its manifestations.